National Medical Commission proposes Unique ID for doctors

The National Medical Commission (NMC) issued the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 on 11 August 2026. The draft proposes a centrally generated Unique Identification (UID) number for registered medical practitioners in India through the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB).

Unique Identification system for doctors

The UID is linked to registration in the State Medical Register and is generated centrally by the EMRB. The draft framework applies to all registered medical practitioners and uses a single identifier for medical registration records.

The proposal includes a “One Nation, One Licence” framework. Under this system, a doctor with a UID can practise across India without obtaining separate state-level licences or registrations.

National Medical Register and state registers

The National Medical Register (NMR) is proposed as the central repository for medical practitioners in India. The NMR will record disciplinary actions, professional misconduct, and suspensions.

The draft regulations provide for automatic electronic synchronisation between State Medical Registers and the NMR. State Medical Councils will continue to scrutinise and grant registrations, while approvals will reflect in both registers through a unified registration portal.

Licence validity and renewal rules

Under the draft regulations, practising licences will remain valid for five years. A doctor’s status will be marked “inactive” if renewal is not applied for within three months after expiry.

Currently practising doctors without a UID must update their details on the EMRB portal within the prescribed timeframe. The draft states that no fee will be charged for one-time UID generation.

Important Facts for Exams

• The National Medical Commission was established under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• The Ethics and Medical Registration Board is one of the four autonomous boards under the NMC.
• The National Medical Register is the central register of all licensed medical practitioners in India.
• State Medical Councils handle registration at the state level under the proposed framework.

Public consultation process

The NMC invited objections and suggestions on the draft regulations within 30 days of the initial notification dated 11 August 2026. The draft concerns registration, licensing, and database integration for medical practitioners in India.