How to check a hospital’s NABH accreditation yourself

You can check a hospital’s NABH accreditation yourself, without relying on a logo. Search for the hospital on NABH’s own website. Ask the hospital for its certificate number. Then confirm three things on the certificate: the exact name and branch, the ‘Valid thru’ date and the scope of services.

Why check it yourself?

NABH is the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers. It runs accreditation and certification programmes for hospitals and other healthcare providers. NABH says accredited facilities are officially listed by it and must display their status inside the facility.

A logo on a website or a brochure is a claim. The NABH listing is the record. Status also changes over time. Certificates carry an end date, and some hospitals will be under renewal. A few minutes of checking gives you firm footing before you send reports or make plans.

How do I search NABH’s directory?

• Go to nabh.co and open ‘Find a Hospital’.
• Choose the state, then the city.
• If you wish, filter by speciality, such as Cardiology or Ophthalmology.
• Look for the hospital’s exact name and the branch you are considering.

NABH notes that its directory lists organisations with accreditation, certification or empanelment, including those under renewal. So finding a name is the start, not the end. You still need to know which programme applies and whether it is current.

Is accreditation the same as certification?

No. NABH runs many programmes. For hospitals these include full Hospital Accreditation and a separate Entry Level Hospital Certification. Smaller facilities have their own SHCO programme. There are also separate programmes for areas such as emergency departments, eye care, blood centres and medical laboratories.

These programmes are not interchangeable. Ask the hospital, in writing, which programme its certificate falls under. Then check that the answer matches what you see on NABH’s site.

What should the certificate show?

A NABH hospital certificate carries details you can check line by line:

• A certificate number.
• ‘Valid from’ and ‘Valid thru’ dates.
• The total number of sanctioned beds.
• A ‘Scope of Accreditation’ section listing the services covered, such as clinical, diagnostic and laboratory services.
• A line explaining how to verify the certificate with NABH.

Match the name and address to the hospital letter or estimate you hold. Large groups often run several branches. Make sure the certificate names the branch where treatment will take place. Check that the ‘Valid thru’ date covers your planned stay.

How do I confirm a certificate is genuine?

NABH’s website has a verification form that accepts a certificate number. Ask the hospital for its number and enter it yourself rather than relying on a screenshot. The certificate also gives a NABH contact for verification. If anything does not match, ask the hospital to explain before you go further.

What does accreditation not tell me?

Accreditation looks at systems: how a hospital manages quality, safety and patient rights. It is not a ranking. It does not tell you which hospital or which doctor suits your case. That depends on your reports and on the treating specialist’s assessment.

It also helps to know your options if something goes wrong. NABH says patients can submit formal complaints to it for review. It also says accredited facilities must have a grievance redressal mechanism of their own.

Where does this fit in my planning?

Check accreditation early, before you ask a hospital for an invitation letter for the e-Medical visa. Keep a copy of the certificate with your other documents. If the hospital changes, check again.

If you would like help checking a hospital before you commit, our free case review is a good place to start.