India medical practitioner licensing reform

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed the ‘Registration of Medical Practitioners and License to Practice Medicine Amendment Regulations, 2026’ to establish a ‘One Nation, One license’ system in India.

Central to this proposal is the issuance of a Unique Identification (UID) number to all registered medical practitioners. This UID, which would incorporate state or Union territory codes and existing registration numbers, is intended to allow doctors and foreign medical graduates to practice nationwide without seeking new licenses in different states. The system aims to link state and national registers through real-time electronic synchronization.

The proposed National Medical Register (NMR) would act as a central repository for registration details, license status, and disciplinary history. This includes tracking actions such as the suspension, removal, or restoration of licenses by State Medical Councils or the NMC.

Under the framework, medical practice licenses would be valid for five years, requiring renewal within three months of expiry. The regulations also address foreign medical graduates and Overseas Citizens of India, noting that temporary registrations for foreign nationals may extend up to 24 months, subject to a mandatory one-year cooling-off period following specialized training.