Categories of Accreditation
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Standard Level Healthcare Accreditation (HA)
The HA Standards serve as an essential tool in the HA process, as they establish the requirements and provide guidance for the quality development of healthcare facilities. In the initial phase of HA implementation, development was encouraged to progress in stages according to each hospital’s capacity and readiness. This approach is referred to as the Three-Step Ladder to HA, where Step 1 follows the principle: “Perform routine work effectively, encourage open communication, and review regularly”, and Step 2 follows the principle: “Set clear goals, measure outcomes, create value, and avoid attachment” or the 3P concept. These principles continue to be applied to hospitals that have achieved HA accreditation.
Advanced Healthcare Accreditation (A-HA)
Advanced Healthcare Accreditation applies to healthcare facilities that have attained Standard Level HA (Step 3) and continue to pursue higher quality maturity. Facilities are expected to demonstrate sustained improvement by utilizing performance outcomes to advance their quality towards achieving their vision and excellence.
District Health System Accreditation (DHSA)
The District Health System functions as a critical mechanism for delivering healthcare services and promoting well-being at the district level. It emphasizes the concept of “Prevention before treatment” to strengthen community-based health systems that foster mutual care. The accreditation assessment adopts the Empowerment Evaluation approach to enhance system capability and sustainability.
Healthcare Network System Accreditation (HNA)
This accreditation applies to networks of healthcare facilities aiming to align systems and processes in a unified direction to achieve efficiency and collective effectiveness in healthcare service delivery. Networks may encompass provincial service networks, disease-specific networks, affiliated facilities, or private hospital networks. The network should demonstrate outstanding and measurable outcomes in patient care.
Primary Health Care Accreditation (PHCA)
Primary Health Care Accreditation standards are designed for healthcare service units that do not provide inpatient care. These standards cover administrative processes, integrated medical services, rehabilitation, health promotion, and disease prevention and control. Implementation began with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Health Centers and will be expanded to primary healthcare facilities across the country.
Program and Disease Specific Certification (PDSC)
Program and Disease Specific Certification was developed to foster organizational learning and stimulate quality improvement in healthcare facilities specializing in specific diseases or systems. It also aims to strengthen clinical teams and integrate care processes for disease-specific or system-specific patient groups. Facilities are required to demonstrate consistently high outcomes, benchmark against leading organizations, and establish the foundation for advancement toward Advanced HA in the future.
Updated: 01 August 2025