Organise evidence the way NABH scores it, by chapter, standard and objective element, with each element's level and the samples that prove it. The 6th Edition has 639 elements, and 105 Core ones are assessed every time.
What the 639 elements are
The 6th Edition has ten chapters, 100 standards and 639 objective elements. 105 are Core and assessed at every assessment, 457 are Commitment and assessed at the final assessment, 60 are Achievement and assessed at surveillance, and 17 are Excellence and assessed at re-accreditation.1
| Chapter | Standards | Objective elements | Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access, Assessment and Continuity of Care | 13 | 87 | 6 |
| Care of Patients | 20 | 135 | 13 |
| Management of Medication | 11 | 68 | 13 |
| Patient Rights and Education | 8 | 52 | 12 |
| Infection Prevention and Control | 8 | 49 | 13 |
| Patient Safety and Quality Improvement | 7 | 46 | 8 |
| Responsibility of Management | 6 | 37 | 4 |
| Facility Management and Safety | 7 | 43 | 11 |
| Human Resource Management | 13 | 76 | 16 |
| Information Management System | 7 | 45 | 9 |
Evidence is samples
A score is the share of samples that meet an element, so evidence means a set of real examples, never a single policy.1 For a virtual assessment, NABH asks the hospital to upload documents and photographs to the HCO document area of its portal, and its procedure runs hybrid assessments that mix onsite and remote assessors.2
- Index by code. One folder or tab per chapter, standard and objective element, using NABH's own codes.
- Mark the level. Core, Commitment, Achievement or Excellence, so you know when each is assessed.
- Name the source system. For each element, where the evidence lives, the record system, HR files or the facility logs.
- Keep live samples. Point to records you can pull on the day, rather than copies that go stale.
- Review monthly. Pull samples for a chapter each month and rescore it.
- Code ______ Level ______
- What proves it ______
- Where it lives ______ Owner ______
- Last sampled on ______ Score ______
Questions
How many objective elements are Core?
105 of the 639 in the 6th Edition, and each must score at least 4 at every assessment.
Do we need evidence for Excellence elements at the first assessment?
No, Excellence elements are assessed at re-accreditation, and Achievement elements at surveillance.
Can evidence be electronic?
Yes, the standards accept physical or electronic records, and virtual assessments run on documents uploaded to NABH's portal.
Sources
- 1NABH, 2025NABH Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 6th Edition, effective 1 January 2025Read source
- 2NABH, 2025Policies and Procedures for Assessment, Surveillance and Re-assessment of HCO, Issue 5Read source
Written by the wai team from National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers guidance, checked on 16 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. NABH does not endorse wai or any software.