To obtain BFHI accreditation, the hospital should follow the Steps outlined below:
- Register and apply.
- Application to NAC.
- Make payment of 1st installment.
- Complete and submit a self-evaluation.
- If your hospital receives a self- assessment score of ≥50%, it qualifies for external assessment and receives technical guidance to attain good grade in external assessment within 2-4 weeks.
- If not, Hospital will obtain technical guidance.
- Hospital can repeat a self-assessment three times in a year if needed.
- If a hospital qualifies, one can ask for an external assessment with a payment second installment.
- The NAC will appoint an 'External assessor,' who will contact you (Hospital contact person).
- The assessor conducts external assessment and reports to the NAC.
- According on the key, NAC provides grades from 1-5 in a descending order.
- If hospital receives Grade 1, it will be accredited as a "Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital" and will be issued a certificate by the NAC that will be valid for three years from the date of issue.
- If the hospital receives a grade of 2-5, it will receive technical advice (within one month of the evaluation) to improve and then may apply again.
- Following accreditation as long as the hospital's accreditation is valid, the hospital is required to share their monthly data every six months, in June and December, using the standard excel-based software tool available in the BFHI-India web portal to monitor breastfeeding data in maternity hospitals or in your own format, where the data is regularly monitored and updated.
- Hospitals are encouraged to reapply for certification after three years.