In a significant move aimed at streamlining medical practice in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced new regulations requiring all doctors to obtain a unique identification number (UID). This UID will serve as a prerequisite for medical professionals to practice medicine within the country. The NMC’s ethics board will generate the unique ID, granting practitioners registration and eligibility to practice medicine in India.
Creating NMR for Registered Medical Practitioners:
As outlined in the NMC’s recent notification, the “Regulation of Medical Practitioners and License to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023,” a comprehensive national medical register (NMR) will be established and maintained by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the NMC. The NMR will encompass entries of all registered medical practitioners from state registers maintained by the State Medical Councils. It will provide essential information about each practitioner, including medical qualifications, specialties, year of graduation, universities attended, and current place of work.
Accessible Information via the NMC’s Official Website:
The NMR will be publicly accessible through the official website of the National Medical Commission (www.nmc.org.in). Individuals can retrieve details such as registration numbers, names, dates of registration, workplaces, medical qualifications (including additional certifications), specialties, universities attended, and institutes from which qualifications were obtained.
License Renewal and Appeal Process:
To ensure ongoing compliance and professional accountability, doctors will be required to renew their medical practice license every five years. The renewal process entails submitting an application to the respective State Medical Council three months before the license’s expiration. Notably, no fees will be charged by the Ethics and Medical Regulation Board (EMRB), NMC, for the purpose of license updating.
Appealing Against License Rejections:
In the event of a license application rejection, practitioners have the right to file an appeal with the Ethics and Medical Regulation Board. The appeal must be submitted within 30 days of receiving the rejection decision from the State Medical Council. Required documents include the original application, communication received from the State Medical Council, a written argument outlining the grounds for rejection, and a processing fee payable to the NMC Secretary.
Adjudication and Second Appeals:
The EMRB will review the appeal within 30 days and make a decision. If the appeal is successful, the EMRB will issue an order to the State Medical Council, binding them to grant the license to the practitioner within 15 days. In the event of a rejection from the EMRB, practitioners have the option to file a second appeal with the National Medical Commission within 60 days of receiving communication from the EMRB.
These new regulations aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and standardization within the medical profession, ensuring that doctors across India adhere to a unified set of guidelines and maintain their commitment to delivering quality healthcare.
