Doctors will be able to practice anywhere with a single registration: New NMC proposal..

The National Medical Commission (NMC) is preparing to make significant changes to the doctor registration system. Under the proposed new rules, every registered doctor in the country will be assigned a Unique Identification Number (UID). This number will serve as the doctor's national-level identity. Consequently, once registered in one state, a doctor will not need to obtain a separate registration or license to practice in another state. Additionally, records regarding a doctor's license status and any disciplinary actions taken against them will be available digitally.

**Practice across the country with a single UID**
The NMC's draft regulations for 2026 propose a uniform national-level registration system for doctors. After obtaining registration from a State Medical Council, the NMC's Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) will issue a UID to the doctor. Subsequently, the doctor's name will be entered into the National Medical Register (NMR).

This UID will serve as the doctor's identity across the country. It eliminates the need for doctors to undergo separate licensing procedures to work in other states or Union Territories.

**License valid for 5 years**
According to the proposal, a doctor's practice license will remain valid for five years. It will be mandatory to update the license within three months of its expiration. Failure to renew it within the stipulated time could result in the doctor's registration becoming inactive. In such a scenario, the doctor would not be permitted to practice, and this status would be updated in the NMR.

**Records of disciplinary action visible at the national level**
Under the new system, information regarding a doctor's registration, license, and disciplinary actions will be maintained in a digital record. If a State Medical Council takes action against a doctor, the details will be recorded in the NMR. Simultaneously, the record will be updated in the medical register of the doctor's home state. Patients and hospitals will also be able to view this information online.

**Registration via a single portal**
There is a proposal to create a unified pan-India registration portal for this system. States that already have online registration facilities will also be integrated with this national portal. Existing doctors will also receive a UID. A special update drive may be launched for doctors who do not currently possess a UID; they will be able to obtain one by updating their details on the EMRB portal. No fee will be charged by the EMRB for this process.

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