National Medical Commission proposes unique ID for Indian doctors

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a new regulatory framework that would issue a centrally generated Unique Identification (UID) number to all registered medical practitioners in India. Under the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, this UID would allow doctors and foreign medical graduates to practice medicine anywhere in the country without the need to obtain fresh registrations or licenses in different states.

Once a practitioner is registered with a state medical register, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC would generate the UID. This number would incorporate the specific state or Union territory code and the existing state registration number. The system aims to link state and national registers so that any updates are automatically synchronized.

The proposed National Medical Register (NMR) would serve as a central repository for registration details, license status, and disciplinary history. This includes tracking orders related to the suspension, removal, or restoration of medical licenses issued by State Medical Councils, the EMRB, or the NMC.