NEW DELHI: A doctor’s disciplinary record may soon follow them across the country, with the National Medical Commission proposing to link the National Medical Register with state registers to track licence status, suspension, removal and other disciplinary action.The proposal is part of the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, published on August 11. The NMR will serve as a central repository of doctors’ registration details and disciplinary orders issued by State Medical Councils, NMC or its Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB).The NMR will record whether a doctor’s licence is active or inactive, along with details of disciplinary action. NMC and EMRB will also be able to seek records from State Medical Councils and monitor compliance.Under the draft, complaints of professional misconduct, unethical conduct or medical negligence will be handled by the State Medical Council in whose jurisdiction the alleged incident occurred. Its decision will be reflected against the doctor’s credentials in the online register.If another State Medical Council recommends disciplinary action, it will also be reflected in the NMR and automatically updated in the doctor’s primary state register. The two registers will be electronically synchronised.The draft also proposes a unified registration portal. Once a doctor is registered with a State Medical Council and receives an NMR unique identification number, they can practise in any state or Union Territory without fresh registration or a licence.
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A medical licence will continue to be valid for five years. If it is not renewed within three months of expiry, the registration will be marked inactive and the doctor cannot practise.Existing doctors without an NMR UID will have to update their details through the EMRB portal within a timeframe to be decided by the board. No fee will be charged for obtaining the UID.Doctors whose registration or licence application is rejected can appeal to EMRB within 30 days. If the appeal is allowed, the State Medical Council will have to grant the registration or licence within 15 days.The draft also proposes a good-standing certificate for foreign doctors and allows temporary registration for those undergoing postgraduate or super-specialty courses for up to 24 months.The regulations are still in draft form. NMC has invited objections and suggestions before finalising them. The earlier draft published on April 7, 2026, has also been withdrawn.
