Entry Level Hospitals Certification Programme

• Community Trust:
  Entry Level Certification builds confidence among patients and caregivers by ensuring that healthcare services are delivered by credentialed professionals in a safe, organised, and ethically governed environment.
• Structured Start to Quality:
  This programme acts as a stepping stone for hospitals beginning their quality journey, offering simplified yet robust standards that help institutionalise patient safety and essential clinical processes.
• Improved Safety and Governance:
  By driving the adoption of documented SOPs, basic infection control protocols, and patient rights mechanisms, the certification strengthens the organisation’s ability to deliver safe, consistent care.
• Improved Safety and Governance:
  By driving the adoption of documented SOPs, basic infection control protocols, and patient rights mechanisms, the certification strengthens the organisation’s ability to deliver safe, consistent care.
• Operational Consistency:
  From triage to discharge, the implementation of basic quality processes reduces variation, streamlines hospital operations, and enhances staff coordination.
• Eligibility for Empanelment:
  Certified hospitals are often preferred for empanelment by government and private payers, making it easier to participate in insurance programmes and healthcare schemes.
• Foundation for Growth:
  The certification prepares institutions for full NABH certification in the future, offering a scalable roadmap for long-term quality and institutional development.
• External Validation:
  Recognition by NABH provides the hospital with an added layer of credibility, making it more attractive to patients, partners, and other stakeholders.

Inclusion Criteria:
• Hospitals with 51 and above sanctioned beds for HCO Programme
• Hospitals providing Allopathic services only
• Hospitals must be functional since at least six months prior to the application
• Hospitals having minimum 30% bed occupancy in the last six months
• Certification will be based on all-or-none principle; every service being offered should be applied for certification
• In day care beds, the hospital should ensure the availability of emergency services whenever necessary

Exclusion Criteria:
• Hospitals having less than 30% bed occupancy in the last six months
• Hospitals providing Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy services with or without Allopathy services
• Standalone Dental, Physiotherapy, Diagnostics and Pathology, Psychology, Diabetology, De-addiction centers
• Hospitals established within six months of application
• Hospitals set up in multiple locations having separate statutory licenses not located within the same premises
• Hospitals having more than one building with separate statutory licenses with distinct legal identities

Entry Level for Hospital Certification Programme (1st Edition April 2014)

18% GST applicable extra.

• NABH has launched the E-Mitra initiative to support healthcare organisations, especially small and mid-sized hospitals, in implementing NABH Entry Level Standards with ease. It includes:
a) Sample policies and procedures for clinical and administrative processes
b) Department-specific guidelines, checklists, and formats
c) Forms, formats, and registers for compliance
d) Guidance on applying for NABH assessments
• Access NABH E-Mitra at: https://nabh.co/e-mitra/

• NABH also conducts regular training sessions such as Programme on Implementation (POI), delivered by senior assessors.
• Free monthly masterclasses under “NABH Quality Connect” are also organised on topics like KPI, medication management, document control, infection prevention, etc.