The National Medical Commission (NMC) has launched a new portal for the registration of all eligible MBBS doctors in India, introducing a unique identification system for each medical practitioner.
According to the NMC, the initiative aims to create a comprehensive National Medical Register (NMR), which will act as a centralised database for verified doctors.
Dr B Srinivas, Secretary of the NMC, announced, “The NMR is ready for registration of registered medical practitioners (RMPs) with immediate effect.” The new portal integrates with Aadhaar IDs to ensure the authenticity of the doctors listed in the register.
All MBBS doctors currently registered on the Indian Medical Register (IMR) are required to re-register on the NMR, according to a recent public notice from the NMC.
This registration process involves the linking of all medical colleges, institutions, and Indian Medical Register (SMCs) on the portal to streamline the verification process.
The NMR will feature various levels of data visibility. Certain information will be accessible to the public, while other details will be restricted to the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC, SMCs, the National Board of Examinations (NBE), medical institutions, and registered medical practitioners, based on specific requirements.
To begin registration, doctors need to provide their Aadhaar IDs, a digital copy of their MBBS degree certificate, and the registration certificate from the State Medical Council or the Medical Council of India where they were first registered.
Additional information, including registration and qualification credentials, can be manually entered and submitted through the portal.
Once submitted, applications are automatically forwarded to the relevant SMC for initial verification. The SMC then passes the application to the respective medical college or institution for further review. After successful verification, the application is sent to the NMC, which issues a unique NMR ID upon final approval.
Doctors also have the option to join the Healthcare Provider Registry, linking them to a broader digital healthcare network.
The NMR portal offers several features, including the ability to add additional qualifications, track applications, suspend licenses, and issue NMR ID cards and digital doctor certificates. Currently, registration is limited to MBBS degrees, but the option to add additional qualifications will be available soon.
Prior to the launch of this portal, there was a lack of comprehensive data on the medical workforce in India.
“Till date, there was a lack of comprehensive data that could provide a detailed and holistic picture of aspects like total numbers of doctors in the country, those that have left the country, those who have lost their license to practice, or the numbers and details of doctors that have lost their lives,” an official noted.
The introduction of the NMR aims to address these gaps and provide accurate data on over 1.3 million doctors.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda inaugurated the NMR portal on August 23.
He stated, “The National Health Register is a much-awaited step in this direction that will strengthen the digital healthcare ecosystem and will ensure quality healthcare to the people of India.”
The NMC, under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019, is mandated to maintain a national register in electronic form, including the names, addresses, and all recognised qualifications of licensed medical practitioners. This new system is expected to enhance the efficiency of medical registration and regulation in India.
Follow us
