As it turns 3, New American Kid on the Block strikes gold
Delhi NCR: AACI (American Accreditation Commission International) took such giant strides in India in just three years as is exceptional in the domain. Its winning streak can well famously be summed up by popular latin phrase Veni, vidi , vici ( I came, I saw, I conquered). Its intense quest for quality and safety in hospitals in these years has left indelible imprint on healthcare matrix in India. With 20 hospitals and counting in its fold, AACI has batted a thousand, so to speak.
So, all high fives and ‘pop the bubbly’ mood on July 5, quite fit the bill. The toast of the town was none other than the accreditation leader Dheeraj Khatore whose never say die attitude and no nonsense approach made AACI rise quite early and easily to the big league of healthcare accreditation. As CEO of AACI’s India and Africa region, he is so driven, unflagging, keen, sharp and always keeping his eye on the ball. The names of eminent hospitals on AACI bandwagon make quite impressive reading- Three Max Healthcare hospitals, KIMS Hyderabad, HGC hospital, KD hospital, Ahmedabad etc with Amrita Faridabad leading the charge.
This ISQua (International Society for Quality in Healthcare) sibling has one ex factor that might pack a punch in its ability to attract more and more hospitals. AACI is the only accreditation body which has Clinical Excellence in Cancer Care Certification program. As hospitals in India scramble for being certified as giving the best cancer care, AACI has the singular merit to grab the eyeball of all hospitals, even of those who have seal of rival accreditation body. Amrita Faridabad already gaining this excellence in cancer care certificate makes a powerful statement for other hospitals
This ex factor might give AACI a bounce it is looking for to snatch the position of being topmost notch accreditation body in India. It standing is consistently going north and now it counts second among 5 top notch global accreditation majors and is perilously close to the topmost. AACI pulling a coup seems just a matter of time.
Talking to Dhananjay Kumar, Managing Editor, Medicare News, Mr Khatore, beaming with the glow of a hard won success story, said, ‘Over a decade of professional experience in the UAE shaped my foundational understanding of global accreditation standards and healthcare excellence. After nearly 13 years of working across strategic frameworks and systems abroad, I brought that exposure back to India—not just as a return, but as a reinvention. That’s where the AACI India journey began. We didn’t simply adopt a model—we localized it. We saw a requirement, not just an opportunity. The idea wasn’t to plug in a western system and hope it fits, but to create something international in ethos yet Indian in relevance—built on affordability, accessibility, and a direct, no-nonsense approach.’
Mr Khatore added further saying, ‘With AACI, the goal was never just accreditation—it was transformation. We started from scratch, supported hospitals from end to end, and grew organically. From building internal capacity through surveyor training programs to repeated on-ground consultative visits, we stayed consistent and committed. Yes, there were challenges. But we faced them with our sleeves rolled up—getting the right people on the ground, gaining trust, and making organizations believe that AACI is on par with globally recognized accreditation bodies.
‘Over such short time, we have built more than milestones. We have built a mission. AACI India now has dedicated army of surveyors leading the charge. Along with our valued partner hospitals who trust in our vision for quality driven care, AACI India continues to raise the bar expanding reach , setting bench marks, and driving meaningful change. These three years are just the beginning. The journey ahead is bigger, bolder and brighter.’ added Dheeraj Khatore.
