What is the NABH SHCO Programme?
The Small Healthcare Organisation (SHCO) programme is NABH's accreditation pathway for hospitals with up to 50 beds. It is not a simplified version of the main HCO programme — it is a purpose-built set of standards that recognises the operational realities of smaller hospitals while maintaining non-negotiable patient safety requirements.
The SHCO programme has its own set of Objective Elements (fewer than Full HCO Accreditation). The 4-level compliance structure (CORE, Commitment, Achievement, Excellence) still applies, and the same 4 passing rules must be satisfied. What changes is the scope of some standards — proportionate to a smaller organisation's capacity.
📌 Key fact: SHCO Full Accreditation covers a defined set of SHCO standards. SHCO Entry Level Certification = subset of SHCO standards. Both programmes use NABH 6th Edition as the base. AccredReady covers both SHCO Full and SHCO ELC with a dedicated module.
NABH SHCO Preparation Checklist
Use this checklist to assess your hospital's readiness. Items marked CORE are non-negotiable — failure on any CORE item = automatic assessment fail.
📋 Governance & Leadership
🏥 Patient Care & Access
💊 Medication Management
🦠 Infection Prevention & Control
🔒 Patient Safety
🏗️ Facility & Safety
👥 Human Resources
📂 Medical Records & Information
Mandatory Committees for SHCO Accreditation
NABH requires specific committees to be functional — not just on paper. Each committee must have: constitution order, defined TORs, regular meetings, and documented minutes.
| Committee | Minimum Frequency | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Assurance Committee | Monthly | Reviews KPIs, CAPA status, incident reports |
| Infection Control Committee | Quarterly | HAI data review, IPC policy updates |
| Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee | Quarterly | Formulary review, ADR analysis |
| Medical Records Committee | Quarterly | Record completion rates, MRD audits |
| POSH Committee | As needed (annual report mandatory) | POSH Act 2013 compliance |
| Biomedical Waste Committee | Quarterly | BMW data review, compliance monitoring |
| Credentialing & Privileging Committee | Annual (for each doctor) | Review and renewal of clinical privileges |
SHCO Fee Calculator
NABH SHCO assessment fees are based on bed strength. The fee structure includes application fees, assessment fees, and annual surveillance fees. AccredReady includes a built-in SHCO fee calculator that gives you an estimate based on your bed count — available in the SHCO module after login.
Official SHCO fee structure: Application fee ₹25,000 + Annual fee ₹1,50,000 (Full Accreditation, up to 50 beds), plus 18% GST on both. Additional charges: Virtual assessment ₹3,000 + GST, Focus assessment ₹15,000 + GST, Certificate re-issue ₹6,000 + GST. For SHCO ELC (Entry Level), fees range from ₹21,000 (up to 5 beds) to ₹48,000 (21–50 beds) for a 2-year cycle. Always verify current fees on nabh.co before applying.
Track Your SHCO Checklist with AccredReady
AccredReady's SHCO module covers all SHCO OEs, all mandatory committees, the fee calculator, and gives you a real-time readiness score. Know exactly where your hospital stands today.
Start free trial →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the bed limit for SHCO programme?
The SHCO programme is designed for hospitals with up to 50 operational beds. Hospitals exceeding 50 beds must apply under the main HCO programme. Bed count is verified during the application process.
Can a nursing home apply for SHCO accreditation?
Yes. Nursing homes, maternity homes, day-care surgical centres, and small specialty hospitals with up to 50 beds are eligible for the SHCO programme, provided they have valid Clinical Establishment Registration and other statutory requirements.
How is SHCO different from HCO accreditation?
SHCO has its own set of OEs — fewer in scope than HCO Full Accreditation. Some standards are proportionately simplified for smaller organisations. However, CORE OEs carry the same weight and the same 4-rule passing criteria apply. SHCO accreditation carries the same NABH branding and is internationally recognised through ISQua.
How often does NABH conduct SHCO assessments?
After initial accreditation (valid 4 years for SHCO Full, 2 years for ELC), NABH conducts a surveillance assessment at 14–18 months to verify continued compliance. A renewal assessment is required before expiry to maintain accreditation.