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NABH Digital Health Standards: What Hospitals Should Know

· 3 min read
Ciyex HIMS Team
Ciyex HIMS Team
Hospital software, India

NABH runs two digital health programmes, and they are easy to confuse. One assesses how well a hospital uses digital systems. The other certifies software. Knowing the difference will help you plan, and help you judge what vendors tell you.

Programme 1: accreditation for healthcare providers​

NABH's Digital Health Accreditation Programme assesses how well a hospital uses digital systems to improve patient care, safety and efficiency. It is open to healthcare providers with an inpatient or day care setup.

According to NABH's FAQ:

  • The standards have eight core chapters covering clinical and non-clinical areas
  • Providers are assessed across four maturity levels: Core, Commitment, Achievement and Excellence
  • Based on their performance, they receive Silver, Gold or Platinum status
  • Accreditation is valid for two years, and reassessment is needed after that
  • Accredited providers must apply for a main NABH accreditation programme in the third year, unless they already hold one

Programme 2: certification for HIS and EMR software​

This programme is for software products. NABH says a product needs at least three deployments in operational hospitals in India and a current ABDM M3 compliance certificate to be eligible. Certification is valid for two years.

The key point is that a certified product does not make your hospital accredited. Good software helps, but accreditation looks at how your hospital actually works.

Questions to ask your software vendor​

If a vendor mentions NABH, ask:

  • Is the product certified, or does the claim only mean it can "support" the standards?
  • Which edition and level does the certificate cover?
  • Is the certificate still valid?
  • Does it cover the HIS, the EMR or both?

NABH's website has a tool for verifying certificates.

How to prepare your hospital​

Start with a gap review. Read the current standards and compare them with how you work today. Check NABH's website for the current edition, as the standards are revised over time.

Fix documentation habits first. Clear policies and consistent records will help whichever level you aim for.

Bring your departments together. Clinical staff, IT and quality teams all need to take part. This is not only an IT project.

Set a realistic target. Pick a level that matches your hospital's current maturity, then plan upward from there.

Review security and access. Know who can see what, how activity is recorded, and how you back up data. This also supports your DPDP Act readiness.

About Ciyex HIMS​

This article is general guidance. It is not a claim that Ciyex HIMS holds NABH certification, or that using it will lead to accreditation. Book a demo to see how the system could fit your records and reporting, and ask us about the current status.

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