Infographic
NABH is India’s national hospital accreditation, run by a constituent board of the Quality Council of India. JCI is an international accreditation from Joint Commission International. Both assess hospitals against published standards through on-site surveys. Neither is a promise about any individual result. Always check that a hospital’s accreditation is current before you rely on it.
IndiaMedicaNABH and JCI compared| Aspect | NABH | JCI |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers, part of the Quality Council of India | Joint Commission International |
| Scope | India; more than 30 accreditation, certification and empanelment programmes | International; more than 1,000 organisations in over 70 countries |
| Hospitals in India | Over 1,299 hospitals accredited (PIB, 2026) | 27 hospitals listed across nine cities (PIB, figures as of 2022) |
| How long it lasts | Most accreditations valid three to four years with a mid-cycle surveillance assessment | Three-year cycle, so an older badge may have lapsed |
| How it assesses | On-site assessment by NABH-empanelled assessors | Survey by clinical and administrative surveyors using patient tracers |
| External recognition | Programmes recognised by ISQua | Surveyors from six continents speaking 21 languages |
| How a patient checks | NABH’s online directory; hospitals must display status | Ask for the current certificate and check its date |
What is the main difference?
NABH is India’s own standard. It has run since 2005 and is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India. JCI is an international body whose accreditation is held by more than 1,000 organisations in over 70 countries. Many large Indian hospitals hold NABH accreditation. Some also hold JCI.
How many Indian hospitals hold each?
A May 2026 government note from the Press Information Bureau reports over 1,299 NABH-accredited hospitals. The same note lists 27 JCI-accredited hospitals by city as of 2022. That JCI figure is older, so treat it as a snapshot.
How long does accreditation last?
NABH says most accreditations last three to four years, with a mid-cycle surveillance assessment. JCI runs on a three-year cycle. A badge on a website may therefore be out of date.
How IndiaMedica uses accreditation
Every hospital badge on IndiaMedica shows the source checked and the date. A badge older than twelve months stops showing until it is re-checked. Where only the hospital’s own statement was available, the page says so.
Does accreditation tell you which hospital to choose?
No. Accreditation shows that a hospital has met a set of standards at assessment. It does not tell you how a specialist will advise in your case. Use it alongside the specialist’s written opinion and your own questions.
Questions people ask
How can I check a hospital’s NABH status myself?
NABH lists accredited organisations in its online directory, which you can filter by state, city and speciality. NABH also says accredited facilities must display their status inside the facility. You can ask the hospital administration directly for its current certificate and expiry date.
Is a JCI hospital better than an NABH hospital?
Neither label ranks hospitals. Both show that a hospital met a published set of standards when it was assessed. The right hospital for you depends on your condition, the specialist team and the written opinion you receive. Your own doctor can help you weigh the options.
Sources
- NABH — Who we are
- NABH — FAQs for hospitals
- Joint Commission International — Hospital accreditation programme
- Press Information Bureau — Medical and Wellness Tourism in India, May 2026
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.