15 May 2023 • All doctors will have to get a unique identification number (UID) in order to practice medicine in the country, according to a notification by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The ethics board of the NMC will generate the unique ID and grant the practitioner registration and the eligibility to practice medicine in India.

As per the NMC notification “Regulation of Medical Practitioners and License to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023, a common national medical register (NMR) will be maintained by the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the NMC for all the registered medical practitioners in the country. The notification also makes the passing of National Exit Test (NEXT) compulsory for both Indian and foreign medical graduates for the purpose of registration with the National Medical Register.

The national medical register (NMR) will have entries of the registered medical practitioners of all State registers maintained by the State Medical Councils. According to a notification issued by the Centre, the NMR will be available on the NMC’s website and can be accessed by all.

“All existing medical practitioners enrolled in Indian Medical Register or State Medical Register, not having the registration number as per the Regulation (Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023) shall update in the web portal of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) within a period of three months of publishing of these regulation and obtain the registration number as a one-time measure and the licence generated so shall be valid for a period of five years from the date of issuance. For the purpose of updating of licence of such medical practitioner, no fee shall be charged by EMRB, NMC,” the notification said.

Source: TOI | Read full story