NABH or NABL Accreditation — Which Does Your Facility Need?

One of the most common questions from healthcare facility owners in India is: “Should I seek NABL or NABH accreditation?” The answer depends on your facility type and the services you offer.

NABL and NABH are both under the Quality Council of India umbrella, but they serve different purposes and apply to different types of healthcare facilities.

NABL — For Laboratories

NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation applies to:

• Medical/diagnostic/pathology laboratories
• Testing laboratories (industrial, environmental, food)
• Calibration laboratories
• Blood banks (testing component)

If your facility primarily performs diagnostic testing, you need NABL accreditation (under ISO 15189 for medical labs).

NABH — For Hospitals and Clinics

NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) accreditation applies to:

• Hospitals (small, medium, large)
• Nursing homes
• Dental clinics
• Eye clinics
• OPD clinics (allopathy)
• AYUSH hospitals and Panchakarma centres
• Blood banks (service component)
• Medical imaging centres

What If You Have Both? (Hospital with an In-House Lab)

If your hospital has an in-house laboratory, you need BOTH:

• NABH accreditation for the hospital overall
• NABL accreditation for the in-house diagnostic laboratory

Ease Care Consultancy handles both NABL and NABH accreditation, making us the ideal partner for hospital complexes that need both certifications under one roof.