📷 Image: The Hindu (via NewsData)
Health
NMC proposes nationwide single licence for doctors, ending state‑wise registration
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 02 Sep 2026, 02:41 PM
👁 30
The National Medical Commission has drafted a proposal that would allow doctors to obtain a single registration and UID, eliminating the need for separate state licences.
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has put forward a draft regulation that would replace the current system of state‑wise medical registration with a single, pan‑India licence for doctors. Under the proposal, once a practitioner secures registration from the State Medical Council where they completed their training and receives a Unique Identification (UID) number from the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB), the same credentials would be valid across all states and Union Territories.
The scheme aims to streamline mobility for medical professionals, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure uniform standards of practice nationwide. By removing the requirement to apply for fresh registration each time a doctor moves or takes up a post in a different jurisdiction, the NMC expects faster deployment of healthcare workers, especially in underserved regions.
The draft has been circulated among state medical councils and relevant stakeholders for comments. If incorporated, the amendment would need approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before it can be enacted. The NMC has indicated that the final rule could be notified within the next few months, subject to the feedback received.
Medical associations have welcomed the move as a step toward greater integration, while some state bodies have sought clarification on the transition process and the handling of existing state‑specific regulations. The NMC has promised to address these concerns in subsequent consultations.
The scheme aims to streamline mobility for medical professionals, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure uniform standards of practice nationwide. By removing the requirement to apply for fresh registration each time a doctor moves or takes up a post in a different jurisdiction, the NMC expects faster deployment of healthcare workers, especially in underserved regions.
The draft has been circulated among state medical councils and relevant stakeholders for comments. If incorporated, the amendment would need approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before it can be enacted. The NMC has indicated that the final rule could be notified within the next few months, subject to the feedback received.
Medical associations have welcomed the move as a step toward greater integration, while some state bodies have sought clarification on the transition process and the handling of existing state‑specific regulations. The NMC has promised to address these concerns in subsequent consultations.