National Medical Register (NMR): One Nation One Registration Platform for Doctors

By Amigos IAS

Why is it in the news?

  • The National Medical Commission (NMC) is introducing a unified registration platform for doctors in India.

More about the news

About the Platform

  • The goal is to eliminate duplication, reduce bureaucratic procedures, and provide public access to information on Indian physicians.
  • A pilot of the National Medical Register (NMR) will be launched in the next six months.
  • Doctors will receive a unique identification number and can apply for a license to practice in any Indian state.
  • NMC had previously released a gazette notification titled “Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023” regarding this initiative.
  • Undergraduate medical students will initially receive a masked ID on the NMR, which will be unmasked upon course completion.
  • The ID will be useful for updating further qualifications. All state license registers will be linked to this ID and easily accessible.
Quality Rating of Medical Institutions

·       The commission has partnered with the Quality Council of India (QCI) to rate medical institutions.

·       Both government and private medical colleges will be assessed on the quality of education they offer, starting from the 2024-25 academic session.

Public Access and Data Transfer

  • The general public will have access to the database.
  • Information available includes a doctor’s qualifications, registration date, workplace, specialization, graduation year, and the institution from which they graduated.
  • Existing regulations will remain in place until the system update is complete.
  • Data of about 14 lakh doctors currently registered will be moved to the NMR.

 

Additional Provisions and Appeals

  • NMC has outlined the procedures for adding qualifications, renewing licenses, transferring licenses, registration removal/restoration, and other processes.
  • If a license application or renewal is denied by a State Medical Council, the applicant can appeal to the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) within 30 days.

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