NABH process
NABH is a process of building systems, not just filing an application. Here is the path from gap analysis to certificate.
- Hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and dental
- Entry Level to full accreditation
- Gap analysis, documents, training, assessment support
NABH guide: all topics
The NABH accreditation process, step by step
- Choose the right programme for your facility type and bed strength.
- Get the standards and run a gap analysis against every objective element.
- Implement: policies and SOPs, committees, training, records, quality indicators, infection control, facility safety.
- Self-assessment to confirm readiness.
- Apply online on the NABH portal and pay the fees.
- Onsite assessment by NABH-empanelled assessors (for hospital accreditation, a pre-assessment comes first).
- Close non-conformities within the time NABH gives.
- Accreditation or certification granted, followed by surveillance assessment and renewal.
NABH describes the same sequence on its website: select the programme, study and implement the standards, self-assess, submit documents and fees, undergo an onsite assessment by empanelled assessors, and close any non-conformities before accreditation is granted.
Documents you will need
The exact list depends on the programme and your services. Most hospitals prepare:
- Statutory licences: KPME registration, fire NOC, KSPCB consent and biomedical waste authorisation, drug licence, AERB, PC&PNDT where applicable
- Organogram, scope of services and staffing plan
- Policies and SOPs for each chapter of the standards (access, assessment and continuity of care, patient rights, medication, infection control, facility management, HR, information management and more)
- Committee terms of reference and minutes (quality, infection control, pharmacy and therapeutics, safety and others)
- Staff credentials, privileging, job descriptions, training records and health checks
- Equipment inventory, maintenance and calibration records
- Quality indicators, audit reports and incident records
- Patient-facing documents: consent forms, patient rights and responsibilities display, feedback and complaint process
Our licences guide covers the statutory approvals NABH assessors ask for.
Assessment and after
- Pre-assessment (hospital accreditation): an early onsite visit to check readiness.
- Final assessment: assessors check compliance with each objective element through documents, observation and staff and patient interviews.
- Non-conformities: NABH gives a report and a reasonable time to fix gaps.
- Surveillance: a mid-cycle assessment checks continued compliance.
- Renewal: a fresh assessment at the end of the cycle.
How long does it take?
It depends on how ready the hospital already is. A facility with good systems may be ready in a few months; a hospital starting from scratch usually needs longer to write documents, train staff and generate the records assessors look for. We give you a realistic timeline after the gap analysis.
More reading: NABH accreditation process for hospitals: a complete guide.
Get a free NABH readiness check
Tell us your facility type, number of beds and city. We will suggest the right NABH programme, estimate the effort and fees, and list the gaps to close first.
Frequently asked questions
What are the steps of NABH accreditation?
What documents are required for NABH?
What happens if we fail some standards?
Is there a pre-assessment?
Planning NABH?
Talk to the Medasus quality team in Bengaluru. We handle gap analysis, documentation, staff training and assessment preparation.
Last reviewed on 2 November 2026 against: NABH official website; NABH FAQs for hospitals; NABH accreditation, certification and empanelment programmes; NABH notification NABH/Gen/2024/6413: implementation plan of the 6th edition hospital standards. Medasus Healthcare Pvt Ltd is an independent consultancy and is not part of NABH or the Quality Council of India. Accreditation and certification are granted only by NABH after its own assessment; Medasus cannot guarantee results or timelines. Fees and rules change, so check nabh.co before applying.
