NMR portal registration leaves doctors confused

NMR portal registration leaves doctors confused

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI 27.08.2024 

The Health Ministry’s National Medical Register (NMR) portal launched recently is creating confusion among doctors about whether they need to re-register themselves in the new system to be able to work in the country.

The Union government, as per the latest provisions, has said that all MBBS doctors who are already registered on the Indian Medical Register (IMR) must register again on the NMR of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

“To start the registration, the doctor needs a digital copy of the Degree (MBBS) Certificate, the Registration Certificate of the State Medical Council/Medical Council of India, where the doctor got first-time registration. The doctor must also have the Aadhaar number ready to start the process,” noted the Ministry.

Speaking to The Hindu, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president R.V. Asokan said: “Yes, they want us to enter our data anew, but we don’t know if it’s called re-registration. I had a talk with NMC and the only benefit seems to be that we can obtain a licence to practise in more than one State. What the Central government is asking us to do is registration, and the registration in the State council is called licence. ”

Explaining the need to bring in NMR, the Ministry maintained that data on doctors has been stored in a scattered form and needed urgent revision. “Till date, there was a lack of comprehensive data that could provide a detailed and holistic picture of aspects like total numbers of doctors in the country, those that have left the country, those who have lost their licence to practice, or the numbers and details of doctors that have lost their lives. The launch of the NMR will ensure the provision of data of its more than 13 lakh doctors,” the Ministry maintained.