Accreditation is the assessment of how well a health care body complies with internationally recognized standards of care. It is awarded by an independent body using evidence based guidelines and specific standards formulated by technical experts.
The assessment is based on information provided by the Oral Health Care Providers (OHCPs) and on-site verification of the same to inspect compliance to the standards. Accreditation status means that a service meets minimum safety and quality standards.
Accreditation which ensures quality, safety and trust through continuous improvement has become an indispensible part of the oral healthcare services all over the world.
The need of the present time is strict quality management. With the large number of dental institutes and clinics across India and a huge difference that exists in the standards across our country, such a programme becomes even more imperative. This is due to the lack of standard guidelines for Oral Health Care Providers (OHCP). If professionals follow uniform standards and protocols we can have safe practices and deliver optimum quality of treatment. Introducing quality management systems in oral health care services is thus very important. Also the management of quality of service provided can be greatly facilitated by the evidence based guidelines put forth by the NADP.
Patients benefit the most when they utilize the services of an accredited OHCP as they are assured standard quality of safety and care. The services are carried out by qualified and trained staff only. Patient rights are respected.
For the Oral Healthcare provider, accreditation process not only encourages constant improvement but also ensures safety against medico legal proceedings as well as the occupational hazards. The staff in an accredited OHCP would have complete job satisfaction as they get an opportunity for knowledge and skill upgradation, safe working environment, protection of their rights and clearly defined duties.
Accreditation provides access to reliable and certified information on services, infrastructure and level of care in OHCPs and the standardization makes their role much simpler.
All the dental clinics, dental colleges and dental hospitals registered in India are eligible for participation in this programme. For convenience of administration all such organizations are referred to as Oral Health Care Providers (OHCPs).
An OHCP where dental services are rendered. It is a space for either a single dentist's office or a group of dentists. It may include full dental care or simple oral hygiene and dental triage.
The OHCP which has more than 15 dental units, a separate Department for every Dental specialty, 24 Hours Emergency Trauma Care Centre, Operation Rooms equipped to carry out complex surgeries, adequate and qualified dentists and staff to manage the OPD.
The OHCP in which a person may undergo a course of study or training which will qualify him for the award of any recognized dental qualification and also provides comprehensive oral health care to persons eligible for public oral health care; 24 hour emergency service to the community; and other tertiary diagnostic and management expertise such as major oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures requiring hospital facilities; oral pathology clinic including diagnosis and management of oral disorders or oral manifestations of systemic disease; maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation; orthodontics; and special needs dentistry .
The OHCP shall register itself on the official NDAP website as per its relevant type and category, the relevant facilities and services being rendered from its specific location using IDA Membership ID and by paying the appropriate registration fee.
This number shall be used for all official purposes and correspondence between the OHCP and NDAB till the time the OHCP is accredited.
The OHCP will have to appear for an online test within 1 and a half months of registration. The OHCP has to clear the online test in maximum three attempts. The online test will be based on General Information Brochure as well as clinical implementation of NDAP standards and general principles of dentistry.
Within 15 days after clearing the online test, the OHCP shall apply to NDAB for accreditation in the prescribed application form. The application should include the following :
The OHCP implements NDAP standards for a minimum of 3 months, uploads all the relevant documents and completes the application form within a maximum of 12 months from the date of accreditation fee payment.
On successfully submitting completely filled application form and uploading the relevant documents, the OHCP shall be notified by the NDAB Reviewer.
NDAB Reviewer shall then review and approve all the uploaded documents and the application form. In case of discrepancies, the concerned OHCP is provided with guidance to the standardized guidelines and informed to correct in a given time of maximum 2 months.
The process of application review and approval may take 1-3 months by the NDAB Reviewer.
Within a month from the date of approval of the application, NDAB appoints an Assessor to assess the OHCP's compliance with NDAP standards, inspection of Quality Management System, indicators of Quality Management, staff interview, practical verification of uploaded documents and objective analysis of the functioning of the OHCP.
The discrepancies observed during the assessment are handed over to the OHCP by the assessor and a detailed assessment report is sent to Accreditation Panel.
Accreditation status of the OHCP shall be valid for a designated period of time.
The OHCP must apply for renewal of accreditation at least three months before the last date of accreditation tenure. A reassessment shall be conducted during the renewed tenure. To view the guidelines for Renewal and for detailed information on Renewal of NDAP accreditation.
Registration
An OHCP interested in applying for NDAP accreditation shall have to first register itself online on the official NDAP website. The Registration fee is the same for all types of OHCPs i.e. Dental Clinics, Dental Hospitals and Dental College and Hospital. The registration fee amounts to 3500/-
The Accreditation fee varies according to the type and category of OHCP as well as the term of accreditation.
| Accreditation Term | Dental Clinic | Dental Clinic | Dental Clinic | Dental Clinic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category I 1-2 dental units | Category II 3-5 dental units | Category III 6-10 dental units | Category IV 11-15 dental units | ||
| 1 year | Application Fee | 1000 | 1500 | 2000 | 2500 |
| Accreditation Fess | 5000 | 10000 | 15000 | 20000 | |
| Asscssor Inspection Fee | 5000 | 6000 | 8000 | 10000 | |
| 3 year | 18000 | 20000 | 30000 | 50000 | |
| 5 year | 25000 | 40000 | 60000 | 100000 | |
Any payment can be done by one of the following modes of payment :
The following points apply to all payments to NDAP through the online payment facilities :
NDAP accepts only the following credit and debit cards in INR transactions :
Due to the processing protocols by the external banking portals, there may be a delay of up to 3 -4 working days in updating your payment details in NDAP records.
An OHCP intending to renew its Accreditation status shall have to apply by 3 months before the date of expiry of Accreditation. The OHCP shall have to pay the renewal fee, submit the renewal form, upload all the relevant documents and undergo a reassessment once it applies for renewal.
Any OHCP applying for renewal shall have to pay the Renewal Fee as a part of application for renewal of NDAP accreditation.
The mode of payment of Renewal fee can either be as a DD or cheque or Online payment. To viewGuidelines for Payment. For payment, the OHCP shall have to log in to the account and proceed with payment through the account.
The Renewal fee varies according to the Category of the OHCP and the Renewal period.
On payment of Renewal fee, the OHCP shall have to fill and submit the Renewal form and simultaneously upload all the relevant documents that are necessary for the accreditation renewal process. The renewal form shall appear in the OHCP's registered online account and the documents shall also be uploaded by the OHCP through the same account. Once, the form is complete and all the documents are uploaded, the OHCP may submit it.
On receiving the application for renewal, NDAP's Administrative Panel then forwards it to the Reviewer. The application shall go through the process of thorough review and on finding it to be complete a date for onsite assessment shall be fixed.
Onsite assessment shall include practical verification of all the required documents and objective assessment of the OHCP by NDAP trained assessor to assess the OHCP's continual compliance to NDAP standards. The OHCP's evidence of compliance with the standards through the accreditation term shall also be evaluated during the assessment.
If an OHCP fails to apply for renewal or does not complete the renewal process before the deadline then the OHCP cannot use the NDAP Accreditation status any longer than the validity of accreditation.
If an OHCP wishes to apply for Renewal of Accreditation after the validity of previous accreditation has expired then it shall have to re-register, pay all the applicable fees and complete all the procedures as required for a fresh applicant. The Accreditation number shall remain the same.
A complaint is defined by the National Dental Accreditation Board as any statement alleging that an NDAP accredited OHCP may not be compliant with the NDAP standards or required accreditation procedure. A complaint is considered 'official' only if it is filed in electronic form through the official NDAP website. This complaint should outline the specific policy, procedure or standard in question and rationale for the complaint including specific documentation or examples.
The Grievance Panel of the National Dental Accreditation Board will review official complaints related to an OHCP's non-compliance with the NDAP's accreditation standards. The Board aims for quality and continued improvement of providing oral healthcare but does not intervene on behalf of individuals or act as a court of appeal for the treatment received by patients or individuals. The Grievance Panel does not intervene in complaints as a mediator but maintains, at all times, an investigative role. This investigative approach to complaints does not require that the complainant be identified to the OHCP and upon request, the Grievance Panel will take every reasonable precaution to prevent the identity of the complainant from being revealed to the OHCP; however, it cannot guarantee the confidentiality of the complainant.
To lodge complaint against an OHCP click here.
NDAP ensures a participatory approach and has a transparent system wherein the OHCP is consulted and their feedback is considered with regards to the Accreditation process. Despite this there may be OHCPs that might have grievances to be addressed. Therefore, the OHCPs who are aggrieved about the process or its outcome or any other issues related thereof, may file an appeal.
An official appeal is considered to be a formal request made through the NDAP website by an accredited OHCP for reconsideration of any adverse decision made by the NDAB or its representatives.
The Jury will be the authority to redress the grievances or appeals made by the OHCP on the NDAP's accreditation process, its outcome or any other issues raised against the NDAB. The Review Panel will review the OHCP's appeal, its relevant reports and other documentation. It will have the discretion to interview the OHCP staff, concerned NDAB representatives and other relevant people, and to re-assess the OHCP where it concludes that such actions are necessary to make an informed judgment. To file an appeal click here.
