ECHS Empanelment Programme
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH-QCI), a constituent board of Quality council of India (QCI) has been entrusted – through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ECHS -with the responsibility of assessing hospitals based on defined criteria for their empanelment under Ex Service Men Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
- Strict Quality Checks for Better Care:
Each hospital undergoes thorough evaluation to ensure compliance with safety standards, infrastructure requirements and service quality before approval. - Empanelment for Ex-Servicemen Healthcare:
Ex-Servicemen, veterans and their families can access treatment through ECHS empanelled hospitals that follow structured and quality based approach. - Better Prepared Hospitals/ Enhanced Operational Readiness:
Empanelled hospitals strengthen their systems, streamline documentation and enhance staff training resulting in more reliable and professional healthcare deliveries. - Standardization Across Facilities:
Encourages consistent clinical practices, Standardized documentation and streamline
grievance readdressal across all empanelled hospitals - Wider Reach and Reputational Advantage:
Empanelled hospitals enhance their visibility and credibility among a distinguish and beneficiary group.
Only allopathic healthcare organizations (Including private hospitals and standalone eye hospitals/ centres, dental clinics, diagnostic laboratories, Imaging centres) are required to apply to QCI-NABH for processing of the ECHS applications only through the online portal, www.ece.nabh.co.
Support Services:
a. 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. 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 applied to super specialties hospitals, Eye care organizations, general hospital 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 QCI-NABH in the prescribed application from. If the original inspection of the Health Care Organization (HCO) was done within two years, QCI-NABH 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
QCI-NABH 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 or directions of ECHS.
- The HCOs is required to fill the application form, make the payment, upload all the required documents on the online portal only. No offline application shall be accepted.
- The inspection shall be carried out in two steps:
- Desktop inspection – To check the adequacy of the documents submitted. The HCOs shall be provided an opportunity to submit the corrective actions of the non-conformities raised in desktop inspection.
- Onsite inspection shall be carried out to assess the compliance on ground after submission of the corrective actions.
- Recommendations shall be made by an independent Empanelment Committee duly constituted for this purpose.The Healthcare organizations will be able to apply for and pay fee for empanelment through the online ECE portal; guidelines for which are available on the NABH website at “Steps to Apply for ECHS & CGHS Empanelment” document. Applicants desirous of getting their facilities assessed for CGHS / ECHS Empanelment are encouraged to apply online for prompt processing. In case, the HCOs have any difficulty in applying, they may contact NABH Secretariat at E-mail: ece@nabh.co
ECHS Empanelment Programme
Hospitals:
| Less Than 100 Beds | More Than 100 Beds | Diagnostic, Eye and Dental Centers |
|---|---|---|
| Empanelment Fees: 30,000/- | Empanelment Fees: 35,000/- | Empanelment Fees: 25,000/- |
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/ centres, dental clinics, diagnostic laboratories and Imaging centres) 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.
- Hospitals must review the eligibility criteria before applying to the ECHS program.
- Hospitals must thoroughly review all documents uploaded on the NABH website before proceeding with the ECHS 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 - ECHS recommendation letters: The ECHS recommendation letters issued by NABH, shall have a validity of 2 years from the date of recommendation. HCOs are required to apply for renewal of the recommendation through the ECE portal six months prior to the expiry of the recommendation letter to avoid any de-empanelment from ECHS.
- 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).
- The Recommendation/Non-Recommendation letter shall also be displayed on the NABH website under CGHS and ECHS empanelment program under following link: ECHS – https://nabh.co/certified-hospital-echs-list/
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