The Union Ministry of Ayush has released the draft Accreditation Standards for Homoeopathy Hospitals for the purpose of accreditation of homoeopathy hospitals in the country. The 84-page document on draft accreditation standards was prepared by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), Quality Council of India, in consultation with all stakeholders including Ministry of Ayush & Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).

As per the summary of standards issued by the NABH, the organisation should define and display the healthcare services that it provides; it should have a well-defined registration and admission process; there should be an appropriate mechanism for transfer (in and out) or referral of patients; patients cared for by the organisation should undergo an established initial assessment; and patients cared for by the organisation should undergo a regular reassessment.

Besides, the laboratory services should be provided as per the scope of services of the organisation. There should be an established laboratory quality assurance programme and there should have an established laboratory safety programme in the hospital. Imaging services should be provided as per the scope of services of the organisation and the hospital should ensure that there is an established quality assurance programme for imaging services. Besides, there should have an established safety programme in the imaging services in the hospital. Patient care is continuous and multidisciplinary in nature. The organisation should have a documented discharge process and the organisation should define the content of the discharge summary.

The Ministry of Ayush has invited comments, suggestions, objections, including deletions/additions if required in the draft document from public at large, including the stakeholders like hospitals and other clinical establishments, industry, consumer groups, etc. The last date for sending the comments is June 21, 2016.