CGHS Empanelment Programme

Benefits for Healthcare organisations

• Access to a vast network of CGHS beneficiaries.
• Improved credibility through NABH-QCI recognition.
• Increased Opportunities for growth, visibility and reputation.

Benefits for Central Government employees, pensioners, and their dependents

• Quality healthcare services at empanelled hospitals and centers.
• Timely, efficient and professional medical treatment.
• Trust and assurance in standard healthcare deliveries.
• Access to high-quality care at reduced and affordable costs.

Only Allopathic healthcare organisations (including private hospitals and standalone facilities like eye hospitals/centres, dental clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and imaging centres) are required to apply to QCI-NABH for CGHS empanelment only through the online portal: www.ece.nabh.co.
Minimum Sanctioned beds requirement for CGHS empanelment:
1.Metro Cities – 50 beds
2.Non-Metro Cities – 30 beds

Support Services:
Availability of basic in-house basic laboratory & imaging services as per the scope of services within the premises is essential. However, for Tier-II and Tier-III cities, remote areas a) a MoU with NABL accredited laboratory is acceptable with an in-house collection centre b) For radiology services, a MoU with an outsourced centre is acceptable. However, the distance of such outsourced facility should not be more than 1.5 kms from the main premises of the HCO. NABH-QCI assessors shall be authorized to assess such outsourced centres.

Manpower:
a. Nursing: GNM/BSc nursing in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) as per the Sanctioned bed strength and the average occupancy of the hospital for last 6 months.
b. RMO’s: MBBS duty officer in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) as per the Sanctioned bed strength and the average occupancy of the hospital for last 6 months.
c. Consultants:
a) Full Time: allowed under Scope
• On the pay-roll of the organization
• Exclusive to the organization
• Has Out patient, In patient & Emergency rights
• Based upon credentials, has privileges for procedural and emergency rights

b) Part Time: allowed under Scope
• Not exclusive to the organization
• Has regular OPD at pre-determined intervals and days
• Has procedural rights, emergency rights as per credentials, who is not exclusive to the organization.
• Has privileges for admitting patients as per his credentials.

c) Visiting/ Consultants on case to case basis: not allowed under Scope
• No rights to conduct regular OPD
• Based upon credentials, can be given admitting rights
• Not exclusive to the organization
• Has certain privileges as per his/her credentials for In patient-IP care and can come on-call in case of emergency.
• No scopes can be granted considering Visiting/Case to case Basis consultants

Operation Theatre: NABH guidelines for Air Conditioning in Operation Theatres shall be applies to General hospital, Super speciality hospital, Eye care organizations to follow NABH General OT Guidelines.
HCOs are required to refer to the Guidelines for air Conditioning in OT-2018, link for the same is mentioned below:
https://nabh.co/Announcement/RevisedGuidelines_AirConditioning.pdf
Focus Inspection for Scope addition: HCOs can add additional specialties in the scope recommended by applying to NABH-QCI in the prescribed application from. If the original inspection of the Health Care Organization (HCO) was done within two years, NABH-QCI would inspect only for the addition of the scopes (upto 3 new scopes only). A focus inspection fee of Rs. 15,000/- plus applicable taxes (presently GST @18%) per HCO shall be charged for the scope addition. If the inspection was done prior to two years, full inspection of hospital/ centre shall be done. The HCO shall have to apply as a new applicant in this case.
Surprise inspections: NABH-QCI shall conduct the random Surprise inspections of the HCOs. The objective of the surprise inspections shall be to check the continued compliance to the parameters as laid down in the application form. Surprise inspections can also happen in response to adverse media report or based on complaints received at NABH-QCI or directions of CGHS.

• Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), in order to ensure quality healthcare services for all its beneficiaries, has entered into a MoU with Quality Council of India (QCI) for the assessment of hospitals on behalf of CGHS.
• The NABH-QCI Empanelment Programme follows the specific application format as defined by CGHS.
• Based on the assessment, NABH-QCI submits its recommendations to CGHS and displays results on the NABH website at nabh.co.

How to apply?

• Healthcare Organisations (HCOs) can apply and pay the fee for empanelment through the online ECE portal.
• Detailed instructions are available in the “Steps to Apply for ECHS & CGHS Empanelment” document on the NABH website.
• In case of difficulties, HCOs may contact NABH Secretariat at: ece@nabh.co

CGHS Empanelment Programme

18% GST applicable extra.

• The Health Care Organizations (HCOs) shall arrange and bear the cost for the travelling, boarding and lodging for the assessor(s).
• The application fee once paid is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Focus assessment – For addition of specialties/facilities after achieving empanelment, if the original inspection of the Health Care Organization (HCO) was done within two years, NABH-QCI would inspect only for the addition of scope. A focus inspection fee of Rs. 15,000/- plus applicable taxes (presently GST @18%) per HCO shall be charged for the scope addition.

Healthcare Organizations (Private hospitals, eye hospitals/ centers, dental clinics, diagnostic laboratories, Imaging centers) are required to apply to QCI-NABH for processing of the CGHS and ECHS applications only through the online portal, www.ece.nabh.co
Applications for inspections for the purpose of empanelment of CGHS and ECHS in the physical form shall not be accepted by QCI-NABH with effect from 15th November 2022.

1. Hospitals must review the eligibility criteria before applying to the CGHS program.
2. Hospitals must thoroughly review all documents uploaded on the NABH website before proceeding with the CGHS empanelment application. In case, the HCOs have any difficulty in applying, they may contact NABH Secretariat at E-mail: ece@nabh.co Phone: 011-42600600/700
3. CGHS recommendation letters: The validity of the CGHS recommendation letters issued by NABH shall be determined by CGHS Head office.
4. The Recommendation/Non-Recommendation letters issued by NABH shall no longer be uploaded to the ECE portal. Only hard copy of Recommendation/Non-Recommendation letters shall be shared with the hospitals and the respective empanelment authorities (CGHS/ ECHS).
5. The Recommendation/Non-Recommendation letter shall also be displayed on the NABH website under CGHS and ECHS empanelment program under following link:
   CGHS – https://nabh.co/certified-hospital-cghs-list/