Dental Colleges / Dental Clinics

Dental Accreditation

NABH has introduced Accreditation Standards for Dental Healthcare Service Providers (DHSP) namely Dental teaching institutions, Dental Hospitals and clinics. The NABH dental standards have been laid down keeping the Indian ethos and working environment in mind. The main focus of the standards is on patient safety, quality of care, knowledge updation, trained staff and environment protection.
Outline of Dental Accreditation Standards

Patient Centered Standards

  • Access, Assessment and Continuity of Care (AAC)
  • Care of Patients (COP)
  • Management of Dental Materia and Medication (MOM)
  • Patient Rights and Education (PRE)
  • Hospital Infection Control (HIC)

Organization Centered Standards

  • Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
  • Responsibilities of Management (ROM)
  • Facilities Management and Safety (FMS)
  • Human Resource Management (HRM)
  • Information Management Systems (IMS)
Chapters of NABH Dental Standards
  • Access, Assessment and Continuity of Care (AAC)
  • Care of Patient (COP)
  • Patient Rights and Education (PRE)
  • Management of Dental Material Medical & Equipments
  • Infection Control (IC)
  • Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
  • Responsibility of Management (ROM)
  • Facility Management and Safety (FMS)
  • Human Resource Management (HRM)
  • Information Management System (IMS)
NABH Standards for Dental Healthcare service provider contains complete set of standards for evaluation of Dental Healthcare service provider for grant of accreditation. The standards provide framework for quality of care for patients and quality improvement for Dental Healthcare service provider. The standards help to build a quality culture at all level and across all the function of Dental Healthcare service provider. NABH Standards for Dental Healthcare Service provider has two sections namely standards for Dental Healthcare facilities (Section A) that has 10 chapters incorporating 88 standards and 433 objective elements and NABH Standards for Dental clinics (Section B) that has 10 chapters incorporating 44 standards and 181 objective elements.
Methodology for Dental Accreditation
Dental Healthcare Service Provider willing to be accredited by NABH must be committed to ensure implementation of NABH standards in their organization.
The assessment team look for the evidences of implementation of NABH Standards in organization. The Dental Healthcare service provider should be able to demonstrate to NABH assessment team that all NABH standards, as applicable, are followed.

Eligibility to apply for Dental accreditation

Dental Healthcare Service Provider (DHSP) that fulfils the following requirements:

  • Currently in operation as Dental Healthcare Service Provider (DHSP) are eligible to apply under this program
  • Dental Healthcare Service Provider should have been implemented NABH standards in the DHSP for a minimum of three months.
  • The organization that commits to comply with NABH standards and applicable legal/statutory/ regulatory requirements.
All the Dental Health care providers with the following criteria;

  • Section A: Dental facilities associated with hospitals with or without inpatient beds including educational institutes.
  • Section B: Dental Clinics and Centres up to 11 chairs
These standards are to be used by the whole organisation and not for a specific service within the organisation. Organisations offer multiple services and the standards are equally applicable to all services within the Dental Healthcare Service Provider.
The Dental Healthcare service provider looking for accreditation shall understand the NABH assessment procedure and ensure that the standards are implemented in the organization.

Benefits of Accreditation

  • It enables the organization in demonstrating commitment to quality care and patient safety.
  • Accreditation to a health care organization stimulates continuous improvement thereby leading to good clinical outcomes.
  • It raises community confidence among the patients as the services are provided by credentialed staff.
  • It also provides opportunity to healthcare unit to benchmark with the best.
  • An accreditation status promotes medical tourism
  • Accreditation also ensures objective system of empanelment under various government schemes and insurance agencies.

Who can apply?

All the Dental Health care organizations with the following criteria

  • Section A: Dental Facilities with or without inpatient beds
  • Section B: Dental Clinics and Centres upto 11 chairs
NABH Fees Structure:-
Accreditation Standards for Dental (DHSPs): Rs. 1500/-
Number of Dental ChairsAssessment Criteria
Pre- AssessmentAssessmentSurveillanceApplication FeesAnnual Fees
Section B: Dental Clinics
1 to 3Not ApplicableTwo man- days(2x1)One man-day5,00015,000
4 to 8One man- dayTwo man- days(2x1)One man-day15,00040,000
9 to 11Two man- days(2x1)Four man- days(2x2)Two man- days(2x1)20,00060,000
Section A: • DHSPs associated with hospitals/educational institutes & standalone DHSPs withinpatient facility/ Without Inpatients
Without inpatientTwo man- days(2x1)Four man- days(2x2)Two man- days(2x1)30,0001,00,000
With Inpatient facilityTwo man- days(2x1)Six man- days(3x2)Two man- days(2x1)40,0001,50,000
*GST: W.e.f. 01.06.2016 a GST of 18% or as applicable will be charged on all the above fees. You are requested to please include the service tax in the fees accordingly while sending to NABH
Pre-Assessment
NABH has made pre-assessment optional. Those DHSP which does not want to undergo pre-assessment shall provide in writing in the remark column of online application form. However, NABH shall conduct the pre-assessment for those DHSP which are desirous for the same except for 1-3 Dental Chairs Clinic which is not applicable for pre-assessment.
The Principal Assessor and other assessors (as applicable) are assigned the job of pre- assessment. Principal assessor shall submit the pre-assessment report online. The DHSP shall take corrective actions on the non-conformities raised by thePrincipal Assessor/ team.The DHSP shall in any case be required to pay the requisite Annual fee beforethe final assessment.
Final Assessment:
After the DHSP has taken necessary corrective action to the non-conformities raised during the pre-assessment (which is optional), NABH shall propose to constitute an assessment team for the final assessment. However as mentioned earlier DHSP’s can directly go for final assessment without opting for pre assessment. The total number of assessors appointed shall depend on the size of the DHSP and scope of services provided. The date of final assessment shall be agreed upon by the DHSP management and assessors. Assessment shall be conducted on all the facilities covered under accreditation. The assessment team reviews the DHSP’s documented management system and verifies its compliance to the NABH standards. The documented quality system, policies and procedures, other manuals etc. shall be assessed for their implementation and effectiveness.
Based on the assessment by the assessors, the assessment report is preparedand uploaded by the Principal assessor in the online portal.The details non-conformities observed during the assessment is visible to theDHSP team in the online portal once the Principal Assessor submits the report.
Review of assessment report:
The DHSP shall take necessary corrective action on the non-conformity (s) and upload the requisite document as evidence for corrective action for each non-conformities. On successful submission of the corrective action by the DHSP, the same shall be reviewed by the Principal Assessor.
Surveillance and Re assessment:
Accreditation to the DHSP shall be valid for a period of three years. NABH shall conduct surveillance before completion of 15-18 months since the date of accreditation of the accredited DHSP. The DHSP shall pay the annual fees every year. The first annual fees is paid before the final assessment and is valid till the end of first year from the date of accreditation. Since then, the annual fees shall be due on the same date/ month every year. The DHSP need to apply online for renewal of accreditation at least six months before the expiry of validity of accreditation for which reassessment shall be conducted. NABH may call for un-announced visit, based on any concern or any serious incident reported upon by an individual or an organization or media.