Glossary
NABH: the accreditation board, and which programme fits a clinic Allopathic clinics, SHCO and entry-level certification, with the eligibility, validity and fees NABH publishes.
NABH runs more than one programme, and a clinic owner usually hears about the wrong one. Here is what the board is, which programme a clinic without beds can apply to, and what NABH itself says it costs and lasts.
Published · Last reviewed · 3 min read
- NABH is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India, "since its inception in 2005". Accreditation is voluntary; it is not a licence.
- A clinic with no inpatient beds fits the Allopathic Clinics Accreditation Programme (2nd edition, June 2023): ten chapters plus three specialty chapters, 40 standards, 174 objective elements, of which 52 are Core.
- NABH's published fees for a clinic or dispensary are an application fee of ₹5,000 and an annual fee of ₹15,000, plus 18% GST; the certificate is valid four years with a surveillance assessment at 21 to 24 months.
NABH, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, is "a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI), set up to establish and operate accreditation programme for healthcare organizations", in the words of its own brochure for allopathic clinics. The board has operated "since its inception in 2005". It accredits "regardless of their ownership, legal status, size and degree of independence", and a clinic applies only if it wants to; no law requires NABH for a private OPD.
Which NABH programmes exist for small facilities?
| Programme | Who it is for | Standards | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allopathic Clinics Accreditation Programme | Outpatient allopathic clinics in operation that have implemented the standards for at least three months; excludes non-allopathic systems and standalone single-specialty centres such as eye, imaging and dental | 2nd Edition, June 2023 | Four years |
| Small Healthcare Organisation (SHCO) Accreditation | Hospitals, day care and specialty centres with 50 or fewer sanctioned beds, six months of operating data and 30% average occupancy | 3rd Edition | Four years |
| Entry Level Certification (hospitals and SHCO) | Allopathic hospitals functional for at least six months; one framework for SHCOs up to 50 beds and hospitals above | 2nd Edition, Core, Commitment and Excellence categories | Two years |
The first row is the one for a clinic. The SHCO and entry-level programmes are bed-based; a clinic with no admitting beds does not qualify for them, and the SHCO page lists polyclinics among its exclusions.
What does NABH count as a clinic?
The brochure defines four types. A Clinic is "A Single Doctor running healthcare facility (other than OPD of a hospital) providing patient care services". A Polyclinic "provides services in 2 or more specialties, working in cooperation and sharing the same facilities". A Dispensary is a clinic "where along with consultation for patients, medicine is dispensed". A Day Care Clinic "has admitting beds for limited time period" without overnight stay. The 2nd edition standards have "ten chapters and three speciality specific chapters incorporating 40 standards and 174 objective elements"; "Out of 174 objective elements, 52 are in Core category which will be mandatorily assessed during each assessment".
What does it cost and how long does it last?
For "Clinics / Dispensary" NABH's fee table for the four-year cycle lists an application fee of ₹5,000 and an annual fee of ₹15,000, with a virtual assessment fee of ₹2,000, a focus assessment at ₹15,000 and certificate re-issue at ₹6,000; "18% GST applicable extra". Clinics with additional services pay ₹10,000 and ₹40,000. The brochure says NABH issues the certificate "with a validity of four years", with "a midterm Surveillance Assessment at 21-24 months", and the clinic "should apply for renewal of accreditation at least six months before the expiry". The step-by-step route for a small clinic is in our post on NABH entry-level accreditation for a small clinic.
What would a single-doctor OPD need to show?
Three months of running the standards before applying, then an on-site assessment against the Core and Commitment elements. In practice that means written procedures, a patient record for every visit, a register of who was seen and what was charged, consent where the standards ask for it, and records of staff training and bio-medical waste handling. Government benchmarks for public facilities are a different thing; see IPHS. A clinical establishment registration is a legal requirement where the Act applies, whether or not the clinic goes for NABH.
Questions
Is NABH accreditation mandatory for a clinic?
No. NABH is a voluntary accreditation under the Quality Council of India. Registration under a state clinical establishment law is the legal requirement; NABH is on top of it, by choice.
Can a single-doctor clinic get NABH?
Yes. The Allopathic Clinics Accreditation Programme defines a Clinic as a single doctor running a healthcare facility, and also covers polyclinics, dispensaries and day care clinics.
What is the difference between NABH accreditation and entry-level certification?
Entry-level certification is a two-year, bed-based programme for hospitals and SHCOs up to 50 beds. Full accreditation for clinics runs on the Allopathic Clinics standards with a four-year certificate.
Sources
- NABH, General Information Brochure for NABH Accreditation Programme for Allopathic Clinics, 2nd Edition (About NABH, standards structure, definitions of healthcare facility, issue of certificate, surveillance) (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- NABH, Allopathic Clinics Accreditation Programme: scope, eligibility, fee structure, process (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- NABH, Who we are (constituent board of QCI, inception 2005) (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- NABH, Small Healthcare Organisation (SHCO) Accreditation Programme: eligibility, exclusions, validity, fees (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- NABH, Entry Level Hospitals Certification Programme: eligibility, fees for two-year certification (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
This is operational guidance for clinics, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with your state authority, council or CA.
Drafted with AI assistance; every fact checked against the sources listed; reviewed by the Vitels team.