NABH Entry-Level Certification: The 2026 Small Clinic Checklist

NABH Entry-Level Certification: The 2026 Small Clinic Checklist

The Entry-Level Certification is a “stepping stone” designed by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers. It focuses on 10 Chapters, 41 Standards, and 149 Objective Elements.

For 2026, NABH has introduced the E-Mitra initiative and updated the HOPE portal to make this process “digital-first.” Here is your comprehensive readiness checklist.

1. Statutory & Legal Compliance (The Non-Negotiables)

Before you even open the NABH portal, ensure these licenses are active and digitized:

• [ ] Clinical Establishment Act License (or State equivalent).

• [ ] Biomedical Waste (BMW) Authorization.

• [ ] Fire NOC (No Objection Certificate).

• [ ] Pollution Control Board Clearance.

• [ ] PNDT/AERB Licenses (if you have Ultrasound or X-ray).

• [ ] Pharmacy License (if applicable).

• [ ] Lift Safety Certificate (if your clinic has an elevator).

2. Patient-Centric Standards (The Core of Care)

NABH 2026 focuses heavily on the patient’s journey from registration to discharge.

• [ ] Patient Rights: Displayed in bilingual/regional languages.

• [ ] Informed Consent: Standardized forms for all invasive procedures.

• [ ] Initial Assessment: Documented within the first 24 hours of admission (or immediately in OPD).

• [ ] Medication Management: * [ ] Policies for High-Risk Medications and LASA (Look-Alike Sound-Alike) drugs.

  • [ ] Emergency “Crash Cart” with daily expiry-check logs.

3. Hospital Infection Control (HIC)

This is often where clinics face the most “Non-Conformities” (NCs) during assessment.

• [ ] Hand Hygiene: Availability of alcohol-based rubs at every point of care.

• [ ] Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Staff trained on correct donning and doffing.

• [ ] BMW Segregation: Color-coded bins (Yellow, Red, Blue, White) with proper labeling.

• [ ] Spill Management Kit: Available and staff trained on how to use it.

4. Facility Management & Safety (FMS)

• [ ] Emergency Codes: Staff must know Code Blue (Cardiac Arrest), Code Red (Fire), and Code Pink (Abduction).

• [ ] Equipment Calibration: All medical devices must have an annual maintenance contract (AMC) and calibration certificates.

• [ ] Hazardous Materials: MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) displayed near cleaning chemicals.

5. Human Resource & Documentation (HRM & IMS)

• [ ] Staff Immunization: Records of Hepatitis B and Tetanus vaccinations for all staff.

• [ ] Credentialing: Verified copies of degrees and registration for all doctors and nurses.

• [ ] The “Quality Manual”: A documented Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for every department.

The Secret Weapon: Leveraging a Top10Doc Profile

While NABH focuses on internal quality, your Top10Doc profile is how you communicate that quality to the world. Here is how having a verified Top10Doc profile complements your NABH journey:

1. Patient Rights & Education (PRE): NABH requires that patient rights and treatment options be clearly communicated. Your Top10Doc profile acts as a digital education hub, where patients can find verified info about your expertise and services before they even walk in.

2. Information Management System (IMS): One of the hardest parts of NABH is maintaining a searchable “Digital Identity.” Top10Doc provides a structured, SEO-optimized profile that serves as your clinical “Digital Asset,” meeting the modern requirements of the Information Management chapter.

3. Credentialing Visibility: NABH mandates that only qualified doctors treat patients. A Top10Doc verified badge proves to both the NABH assessors and your patients that your medical credentials have been vetted by a third-party authority.

4. Feedback & Quality Improvement: NABH Chapter 6 (PSQ) requires a mechanism for patient feedback. Use your Top10Doc profile to aggregate genuine patient reviews, turning compliance data into marketing power.

   Claim your FREE profile:

The 2026 Fee Structure (Effective till Sept 30, 2026)

NABH has “rationalized” fees to support smaller setups. Here is what you can expect to pay for a 2-year certification cycle:

Note: 18% GST is extra. Virtual assessment is now standard for clinics with up to 5 beds.

FAQ

1. What is the NABH Entry-Level Certification?

Think of it as the “foundation course” for quality. It is a simplified version of the full accreditation specifically designed for Small Healthcare Organizations (SHCOs) with up to 50 beds. It focuses on core safety protocols—like infection control and patient rights—rather than the high-level administrative complexities required for full accreditation.

2. What are NABH Guidelines 2025?

As of 2025, NABH launched the 6th Edition of its standards. The biggest shift is the “Digital-First” approach. It mandates:

• Digital tracking of at least 75% of patient records.

• Strict cybersecurity controls for patient data.

• Focus on Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROMs)—not just what the doctor says, but how the patient actually feels after treatment.

3. What is the difference between Entry-Level and Full NABH?

• Entry-Level: 10 chapters, 41 standards, and 149 objective elements. It is valid for 2 years. It’s like a “Quality Starter Kit.“

• Full NABH: 10 chapters, but a massive 100+ standards and over 600 objective elements. It is valid for 3 years and is the “Gold Standard” required for medical tourism and major corporate empanelment.

4. How can I get a NABH certificate?

The process is now centralized through the HOPE Portal.

1. Register: Create an account on the HOPE Portal.

   Recommended Reading Hyderabad Pin Code List 2026 →

2. Self-Assessment: Fill out your data and upload geotagged photos of your facility.

3. Desktop Review: An assessor reviews your documents online.

4. On-site/Virtual Assessment: A final audit is conducted to verify your claims.

5. Certification: Once any gaps (Non-Conformities) are closed, the board issues the certificate.

5. What is the cost of NABH certification?

For 2026, there is a discounted fee for small clinics:

• Up to 5 Beds: ₹21,000 + GST.

• 6–20 Beds: ₹30,000 + GST (Discounted rate).

• 21–50 Beds: ₹48,000 + GST (Discounted rate).

• Note: You also pay a virtual assessment fee (approx. ₹3,000).

6. What are the three types of accreditation?

In India, healthcare quality is divided into:

1. Accreditation: For full hospitals (HCO) and specialized clinics (Full NABH).

2. Certification: For entry-level hospitals and specific departments (like Nursing Excellence).

3. Empanelment: For government schemes like CGHS or ECHS.

7. What is the 5-step accreditation process?

1. Preparation: Purchase the standards and train your staff.

2. Implementation: Run the clinic based on those standards for at least 3 months.

3. Application: Submit your form and fee on the portal.

4. Assessment: The actual audit (Desktop + On-site).

5. Compliance: Fix any errors identified during the audit to receive the certificate.

8. What is Level 4 Accreditation?

This is a term often used in state-level quality rankings or international tiers (like HIMSS for digital maturity). In India, it generally refers to hospitals that have moved past Entry-Level and are nearing Full Accreditation with advanced digital and clinical integration.

9. What are the Top 3 accreditations in India?

1. NABH: The national standard for hospital quality.

2. NABL: Specifically for laboratories (blood tests, pathology).

3. JCI (Joint Commission International): The “Ivy League” of accreditation, usually only pursued by massive corporate hospitals catering to international patients.

10. What are the 7 steps of Patient Safety?

These are the pillars of a safe hospital culture:

1. Build a safety culture: Openly discuss mistakes without blame.

2. Lead and support staff: Appoint a “Safety Champion.“

3. Integrate risk management: Identify what could go wrong before it does.

4. Promote reporting: Encourage staff to report “near misses.“

5. Involve patients: Talk to patients as partners in their care.

6. Learn and share: Root cause analysis of errors.

7. Implement solutions: Fix the system, don’t just blame the person.

11. What are the 4 main types of Alerts and Codes?

Hospitals use color codes to communicate emergencies silently:

• Code Red: Fire Emergency.

• Code Blue: Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest (Medical Emergency).

• Code Pink: Infant or Child Abduction.

• Code Yellow: Disaster or Mass Casualty Incident (or Internal Emergency).

12. What are the 5S in NABH?

Borrowed from Japanese management, this helps keep your clinic organized:

1. Sort (Seiri): Remove unnecessary items (expired meds, old files).

2. Set in Order (Seiton): Everything has a place (emergency drugs must be reachable).

3. Shine (Seiso): Daily deep cleaning.

4. Standardize (Seiketsu): Make the first 3 steps a daily habit.

5. Sustain (Shitsuke): Discipline and regular audits to keep the standards high.