Launch of COACH : A Collaborative Health Initiative (ANBAI, AHPI & CAHO)

COACH : Centre of Alliance for Collaborative Health (Consortium of ANBAI, AHPI & CAHO) traces its roots back to the formation of the Association of National Board Accredited Institutions(ANBAI) in 2010 by Dr Devi Shetty, Dr Alex Thomas, Dr Rajsekaran and Dr Prem Nair. ANBAI was established due to be a common voice of NBE Institutions when dealing with the Government. ANBAI now collaborates with the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), fostering an ideal partnership for impactful actions.

Building on the success of ANBAI, the need for a similar organization at the national level for hospitals became apparent, leading to the formation of the Association of Healthcare Providers India in 2012. Dr Devi Shetty and Dr Alex roped in Dr Giridar Gyani, who had just retired as Secretary General of the Quality Council of India to be the first DG of the new organisation which has now become the largest and most effective representative of healthcare providers in the Country.

CAHO was established in 2012 initially as a supporting arm of NABH. Dr. Alex and Dr. Vijay Aggarwal were among the first office bearers with Dr. Gyani as a mentor and guide. CAHO has blossomed into an international organisation impacting millions of lives working, specially in the area of patient, safety and quality.

Over the past decade, each organization has evolved into a leading association in their respective areas. ANBAI works closely with the National Board of Examination while AHPI has become the largest association of hospital members, influencing policy and ultimately for quality healthcare delivery at grassroots levels. Concurrently, CAHO has expanded into an international organization, driving significant improvements in patient safety and healthcare quality nationwide.

At the present time, with the shared leadership across the three organizations, informal collaborative efforts have been successful in various initiatives, a few of which are mentioned below.

ANBAI and AHPI advocated for the equivalence of MD/MS degrees with National Board of Examinations, and most recently lobbied for continuation of NBE as an independent entity.

AHPI and CAHO worked to establish entry-level standards for hospitals and with IRDA to ensure this as a minimum criteria for empanelment.

Looking ahead, the primary goal of this alliance is to formalize ongoing collaboration and foster continuous improvement in healthcare delivery. By working together, COACH: Centre of Alliance for Collaborative Health (Consortium of ANBAI, AHPI & CAHO) aims to advance patient safety, quality standards, and regulatory practices for the benefit of healthcare in our country.