NMC Begins Registration for Unique IDs for All Doctors

This new system will serve as a comprehensive repository of medical professionals in India, ensuring their credentials are up-to-date and verified.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has begun the registration process for all MBBS doctors eligible to practice in India through a newly launched portal.

This initiative will provide each registered medical practitioner (RMP) with a unique identification (ID) as part of the National Medical Register (NMR), a dynamic, centralized database that verifies the authenticity of doctors using their Aadhaar IDs.

According to Dr B Srinivas, Secretary of the NMC, “The NMR is ready for registration of RMPs with immediate effect.”

All doctors currently listed on the Indian Medical Register (IMR) will need to re-register on the NMR platform.

This new system will serve as a comprehensive repository of medical professionals in India, ensuring their credentials are up-to-date and verified.

Registration Process

The NMR system is designed to be user-friendly, with interlinking between medical colleges, institutions, and state medical councils (SMCs) on a single platform.

Doctors will be required to provide their Aadhaar IDs, a digital copy of their MBBS degree certificate, and their State Medical Council (SMC) or Medical Council of India (MCI) registration certificate for initial registration.

Additional details, such as qualifications and credentials, can be manually submitted through the portal.

Once the application is submitted, it will automatically be sent to the relevant SMC for verification. The SMC will then forward the application to the respective medical college or institution for further review.

After this process, the NMC will conduct a final verification. Upon successful completion, a unique NMR ID will be issued to the doctor.

Doctors will also have the option to join the Healthcare Provider Registry through the NMR portal, which will connect them to the broader digital healthcare ecosystem in India.

Portal Features & Access

The NMR portal offers a variety of features for both doctors and institutions. These include the ability to add additional qualifications, track applications, suspend licenses, issue NMR ID cards, and generate digital doctor certificates.

While some data will be publicly visible, other information will only be accessible to the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB), SMCs, the National Board of Examinations (NBE), and other relevant medical institutions as per requirements.

For the time being, the portal is accepting registration based on MBBS degrees only. However, the feature to add additional qualifications will be made available soon.

Background

Previously, there was no centralized or comprehensive database detailing the total number of doctors in India, those who have left the country, or those who have lost their license to practice.

With the launch of the NMR, this data will now be available in real-time, providing crucial insights into India’s medical workforce.

The NMC estimates that more than 13 Lakh doctors will be included in the register, enabling the government and healthcare institutions to make better-informed decisions about healthcare resources.

An official noted, “The NMR will ensure the provision of data for more than 13 lakh doctors, offering a comprehensive view of the medical profession in India.”

This development is expected to improve the quality of healthcare delivery across the country by creating a reliable and accessible record of practicing doctors.

Strengthening India’s Digital Healthcare Ecosystem

The NMR portal was officially inaugurated by Union Health Minister JP Nadda on August 23.

Nadda emphasized the importance of the National Medical Register in strengthening India’s digital healthcare infrastructure, stating, “The National Health Register is a much-awaited step in this direction that will strengthen the digital healthcare ecosystem and ensure quality healthcare to the people of India.”

The NMC’s mandate, under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019, requires the EMRB to maintain a national register in electronic form, containing the names, addresses, and recognized qualifications of all licensed medical practitioners.

This latest move aligns with India’s broader efforts to digitize its healthcare system and improve the transparency and accountability of medical professionals.