New Delhi: All doctors practicing modern medicine, including MBBS, MD, MS, and super-specialists, must re-register with the National Medical Commission (NMC) as the apex medical body has officially launched the much-anticipated National Medical Register (NMR) portal.
The portal was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, alongside Union Minister of State (MoS) for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, and with the virtual presence of Union MoS for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav. The NMR is mandated under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019, which requires the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC to maintain a comprehensive, electronic national register containing the name, address, and recognized qualifications of all licensed medical practitioners.
Here are six key points about the NMR that doctors should be aware of:
1. What is the National Medical Register (NMR)?
The NMR will serve as a dynamic and comprehensive database for all registered allopathic doctors in India. A key feature of the NMR is its integration with doctors' Aadhaar IDs, ensuring authenticity and accuracy of individual records.
2. Mandatory Registration on NMR
All MBBS doctors already registered with the Indian Medical Register (IMR) must re-register on the NMR portal as mandated by the recent government announcement.
3. How to Register on NMR
To begin the registration process, doctors need to prepare the following documents: a digital copy of their MBBS degree certificate, the registration certificate from the State Medical Council/Medical Council of India where they first registered, and their Aadhaar number. Registration can be completed at the NMR portal, accessible via https://nmr-nmc.abdm.gov.in/nmr/v3/.
4. Registration of Additional Data on NMR
Doctors can add further details to their NMR profiles, including additional qualifications and credentials, which will then be verified by the relevant State Medical Council and forwarded to the National Medical Commission. Upon successful verification, a unique NMR ID will be issued. During this process, doctors can also opt to join the Healthcare Provider Registry, linking them to a broader digital healthcare ecosystem.
5. Features of the NMR Portal
The NMR portal offers a single platform where all stakeholders, including State Medical Councils (SMCs) and educational institutions, can log in to verify applications. Additional features include the ability to update qualifications, track applications, suspend licenses, and issue NMR ID cards and digital doctor certificates. The National Health Authority (NHA) will support the development of the NMR, with plans for future enhancements such as direct software integration and the inclusion of continuing medical education credit points.
6. Accessibility of NMR Data
All medical colleges and institutions, including Institutes of National Importance (INIs) and SMCs, are interlinked on the NMR portal. While the public release has not specified which data will be public and which will remain private, it clarified that only some data will be visible to the public. Other information will be accessible only to authorized bodies like the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB), the NMC, SMCs, and the National Board of Examinations (NBE).
At the launch event, Shri Nadda praised the efforts of the NMC and NHA, noting that the NMR represents a significant step towards strengthening India's digital healthcare ecosystem. The NMR will be continuously upgraded to ensure a streamlined and authentic registration process, ultimately leading to better healthcare quality across the nation.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)