Key takeaways
- Standalone dialysis centres are accredited under NABH's Allopathic Clinics 2nd Edition, which adds a Management of Dialysis Care (MDC) chapter to the 153 general clinic elements.
- MDC has 12 objective elements, 5 of them Core: scope of procedures, assessment before dialysis, informed consent, preventing wrong patient or procedure, and monitoring before the patient leaves.
- Water and dialysate: daily TDS and pH checks of RO water, monthly endotoxin testing at the machine inlet and monthly microbiological analysis of dialysate.
- Dialysis units inside a hospital are assessed as part of the hospital's own accreditation, not separately.
Which NABH programme covers dialysis
- Standalone dialysis centres are accredited under NABH's Allopathic Clinics standards, 2nd Edition (June 2023). The 2nd Edition was expanded to cover day care, dermatology, dialysis centres and diabetes clinics, and NABH issues certificates for dialysis centres under an "Allopathic Clinics – Dialysis Center" scope. One such certificate, issued in April 2025 for maintenance haemodialysis, is valid until April 2029.
- Dialysis units inside a hospital are part of the hospital's own accreditation, under the 6th Edition hospital standards or SHCO.
A dialysis centre meets the general clinic standards (38 standards and 153 objective elements across ten chapters) plus the dialysis chapter, Management of Dialysis Care (MDC). Our allopathic clinic page covers the general requirements.
The dialysis chapter (MDC) at a glance
MDC has one standard, that the centre provides safe dialysis services, with 12 objective elements: 5 Core and 7 Commitment.
| Element | Level | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| MDC.1.a | Core | Procedures match the patient's clinical needs and safety; done by legally qualified people under written guidance |
| MDC.1.b | Commitment | Patients needing monitoring beyond the centre's scope are referred, under an agreement with a suitable facility |
| MDC.1.c | Core | Every patient is assessed before the procedure |
| MDC.1.d | Core | Informed consent before the procedure |
| MDC.1.e | Core | Wrong patient, site or procedure is prevented, with at least two identifiers including the unique ID |
| MDC.1.f–g | Commitment | Written guidance for sedation and anaesthesia, where used |
| MDC.1.h | Commitment | A procedure note by the doctor performing it |
| MDC.1.i | Core | Patients are monitored for adverse events before discharge: vitals, weight, bleeding and anything eventful |
| MDC.1.j | Commitment | Nursing care follows protocols, including care of fistulas, grafts and central catheters |
| MDC.1.k | Commitment | Written guidance for equipment and engineering controls: dialysate, machines, dialyser reuse, RO water |
| MDC.1.l | Commitment | Dialysis-specific key performance indicators |
Consent for repeated sessions
Dialysis is a procedure repeated for months or years, so NABH lets the centre take consent at the first session with a defined validity of no more than six months. The patient endorses the consent at each session, and a fresh consent is needed whenever the treatment modality changes or another is added. Consent covers the procedure, its risks, benefits and alternatives and who will perform it, in a language the patient understands, and it is taken by the person performing the procedure.
Water, dialysate, machines and dialysers
This is where dialysis centres most often fall short. The standard's interpretation asks for:
- RO water: periodic monitoring as per standard guidelines, for example daily TDS and pH checks, and monthly endotoxin testing of water from the dialysis machine's inlet port. The clinic standards' facility chapter repeats the monthly endotoxin requirement.
- Dialysate: monthly microbiological analysis, with samples collected from the inlet to the dialyser.
- Machines: disinfection as per the manufacturer's instructions and recognised infection control practice, and yearly servicing and calibration records.
- Dialyser reprocessing: a protocol covering the number of reuses, time for reprocessing, storage (capped and completely filled with disinfectant, with dialyser and box marked with the patient's name and ID) and final disposal, with records.
Quality indicators
On top of the clinic's general indicators, the centre monitors at least:
- Catheter-related bloodstream infection rates
- Adverse events during dialysis
- The percentage of cases where dialysis was interrupted
Infection prevention runs through everything else too: hand hygiene, safe injection practice, and screening and segregation of patients according to your written guidance. Our IPC chapter guide explains the broader infection control requirements, and biomedical waste authorisation is one of the statutory approvals assessors check.
Cycle, fees and occupancy
- Cycle: four years. NABH's clinic brochure places the mid-term surveillance at 21–24 months, while the programme page says 15–18 months, so confirm the schedule when you apply.
- Fees (NABH clinic fee table, plus 18% GST): ₹5,000 application and ₹15,000 a year for clinics and dispensaries; ₹10,000 and ₹40,000 a year for clinics with additional services. Virtual assessment costs ₹2,000. Confirm with NABH which category applies to your centre.
- Occupancy: NABH's January 2026 norms say that for standalone day-care centres, including dialysis centres, day-care beds count as census beds where occupancy applies. See our occupancy norms guide.
Getting a dialysis centre ready
- Write the dialysis SOPs: assessment, consent, identification, vascular access care, monitoring and discharge.
- Set up the water and dialysate testing schedule with an accredited laboratory, and keep the reports.
- Document the dialyser reuse protocol and label every stored dialyser.
- Start recording the three dialysis indicators every month.
- Check statutory approvals: clinical establishment registration, biomedical waste authorisation and fire safety.
We prepare dialysis centres for NABH alongside the clinic standards, including a mock assessment before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can a standalone dialysis centre get NABH accreditation?
Yes. NABH accredits standalone dialysis centres under its Allopathic Clinics accreditation standards, 2nd Edition (June 2023). Centres follow the general clinic standards plus a dialysis-specific chapter, Management of Dialysis Care (MDC), and NABH issues certificates under an 'Allopathic Clinics – Dialysis Center' scope.
How long is NABH accreditation valid for a dialysis centre?
Four years. NABH's clinic brochure puts the mid-term surveillance at 21–24 months after accreditation, while its programme page mentions surveillance at 15–18 months, so confirm the schedule with NABH when you apply.
How often must RO water be tested in a NABH dialysis centre?
The NABH clinic standards give the example of daily TDS and pH monitoring of RO water and require the water at the dialysis machine's inlet port to be tested for endotoxins every month. Dialysate is also sent for microbiological analysis monthly, with samples taken from the inlet to the dialyser.
Is consent needed before every dialysis session?
No. For a procedure repeated over a long time, such as dialysis, consent is taken at the first instance with a defined validity of no more than six months, and the patient endorses it at each session. A fresh consent is needed if the treatment modality changes.
What quality indicators must a dialysis centre track for NABH?
At a minimum: catheter-related bloodstream infection rates, adverse events during dialysis, and the percentage of sessions where dialysis was interrupted, in addition to the clinic's general quality indicators.
What does NABH accreditation cost for a dialysis centre?
NABH's clinic fee table has two categories over a four-year cycle: ₹5,000 application plus ₹15,000 a year for clinics and dispensaries, and ₹10,000 plus ₹40,000 a year for clinics with additional services, plus 18% GST. Confirm with NABH which category applies to your dialysis centre.
Official sources
Fees and rules change. Always confirm on the official page before you apply.
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Read next
- Allopathic clinics & polyclinicsNABH Allopathic Clinics accreditation (2nd Edition) for OPD clinics, dispensaries and polyclinics: eligibility, fees from ₹5,000 + ₹15,000/yr, process.
- NABH Bed Occupancy Norms 2026: What Changed for SHCO, Hospitals and Entry LevelNABH's revised bed occupancy norms (January 2026): 20% for the final assessment, 25% at surveillance, 30% at renewal, day-care beds and how to calculate occupancy.
- NABH 6th Edition IPC Chapter: Infection Prevention and Control ExplainedThe NABH 6th Edition IPC chapter explained: 8 standards, 49 objective elements, the 13 Core elements, surveillance, CSSD and the evidence assessors want.
- Biomedical waste authorisationBiomedical waste authorisation under the BMW Rules 2016: colour coding, CBWTF agreements, the 30 June annual report and what NABH checks.