NMC Notifies Draft Regulations for National Medical Register
The National Medical Commission has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of medical practitioner registration through the draft 'Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026', notified on August 11, 2026. Under the proposed framework, doctors will be issued a Unique Identification number to practice anywhere in the country without requiring fresh registration in multiple states.
The draft regulations invite objections and suggestions from stakeholders for a period of 30 days from the notification date, according to the official notification. Specific details of objections or suggestions received during this 30-day consultation period are not yet publicly available, and the exact date for the finalization and implementation of these regulations is not specified by the National Medical Commission.
Centralised Generation of Unique Identification Numbers
Once a medical practitioner completes registration with a State Medical Council, a Unique Identification number will be generated centrally by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board. This identifier will incorporate the relevant State or Union Territory code alongside the practitioner's State Medical Register number.
The National Medical Register will operate as a central repository for all registration details, active or inactive licence statuses, and records of disciplinary proceedings, including suspensions or removals. Practising licences under the proposed rules will carry a five-year validity. Registrations will automatically become inactive if renewal applications are not submitted within three months of expiry.
Jurisdictional Framework for Disciplinary Actions
While the right to practice is nationalised across all States and Union Territories, disciplinary jurisdiction will remain primarily with the State Medical Council in whose territorial jurisdiction the alleged professional misconduct, unethical conduct, or medical negligence occurred. Existing doctors who do not currently possess a Unique Identification number will be required to update their details on the Ethics and Medical Registration Board portal to obtain one, with no fee charged for this one-time process.
Observers note that the accountability question turns on whether automatic synchronisation between the National Medical Register and the State registers actually works in practice, according to industry reports. The retention of disciplinary authority with local State Medical Councils maintains a division between centralised registration and regional regulatory enforcement.
Comparative Context and Professional Mobility
This proposal represents a major shift from the current system where doctors often need to navigate state-specific registration requirements when relocating their professional practice. The aim is to create a more integrated and digitally connected medical registration system, similar to national licensing frameworks operating in other countries.
Medical practitioners in India will gain greater professional mobility across state boundaries, reducing administrative hurdles for those seeking to work or relocate to different states. State Medical Councils will need to ensure electronic synchronisation with the National Medical Register while retaining their role in disciplinary actions. Patients could benefit from easier and more streamlined verification of doctors' credentials and disciplinary history across the country.
