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 Dr. Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), has reaffirmed the organization's zero-tolerance policy towards tampering, forgery, and falsification of documents submitted for accreditation and certification processes.
“Tampering, falsification, and misrepresentation will not be tolerated in any form,” Dr. Kochhar said, emphasizing that NABH is committed to upholding the integrity of its accreditation and certification systems.
NABH has stipulated strict punitive measures against healthcare organizations (HCOs) found engaging in unethical or unlawful practices during the accreditation process. These measures include immediate closure of accreditation or certification applications, withdrawal of existing accreditation or certification status, a mandatory five-year bar from reapplying under any NABH programme, initiation of legal proceedings as deemed necessary and public disclosure of the names of defaulting organizations on the NABH website.
The move comes amid increasing reports of hospitals submitting tampered statutory licenses, manipulated staff lists, altered infrastructure images, and forged documents to gain NABH accreditation or empanelment with regulatory bodies and insurance networks.
Dr. Kochhar made it clear that the onus lies squarely on the hospital leadership, including owners, CEOs, and senior management, to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of all data and documents submitted to NABH.
“Any malpractice, whether deliberate or inadvertent, carried out by hospital employees, consultants, or third-party agents will not absolve the leadership of responsibility,” he stated. The NABH will not entertain pleas blaming junior staff or third parties, reinforcing that organizational heads must exercise due diligence at all levels of the certification or accreditation process.
To further strengthen accountability and transparency, NABH has announced that it will publish the names of defaulter organizations on its official website. This move aims to protect the credibility of the accreditation process and maintain the trust of patients and stakeholders in the healthcare system.
NABH urges all applicant, accredited, certified, and empaneled healthcare organizations to adhere strictly to ethical conduct and regulatory compliance.
“NABH stands for the highest standards in patient safety and healthcare quality. This can only be achieved when all stakeholders demonstrate integrity and professionalism,” Dr Kochhar said, calling upon healthcare providers to reaffirm their commitment to ethical practices.
He added that any healthcare organization suspecting a case of document tampering or forgery must promptly report it to NABH at complaints.redressal@nabh.co.
NABH is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), established to operate accreditation and allied programs for healthcare organizations. NABH’s mission is to promote patient safety and healthcare quality through process improvement and systems-based approaches.
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