NMC to Introduce 'One Nation, One Licence' Framework for Doctors

Medical practitioners in Hyderabad and across the country will soon be able to practice in any state under a single registration, as the National Medical Commission (NMC) prepares to launch the 'One Nation, One Licence' framework.

The initiative will be introduced through the Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026. Under the new system, doctors will update their credentials through a centralized electronic portal to obtain a unique identification number linked to the National Medical Register (NMR). This single credential will grant them legal eligibility to practice medicine anywhere in India without undergoing separate registrations when moving across state lines.

Existing practitioners enrolled under older state or Indian medical registers will be required to complete a one-time update of their details on the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) web portal to secure their NMR unique identification numbers, without having to pay any processing fees.

The upcoming regulations mandate real-time digital synchronization between the National Register and State Registers under the EMRB. Any modifications, including updated qualifications or disciplinary actions, will automatically reflect across both state and national databases.

Medical practising licences will have a validity period of five years. If a practitioner fails to submit a renewal application within three months of expiration, their registration status will automatically turn inactive, resulting in an immediate suspension of their right to practice until the renewal is resolved.

The amended regulations also address disciplinary procedures and medical negligence cases. Complaints regarding professional misconduct will be investigated by the State Medical Council in the jurisdiction where the incident occurred. Final decisions reached by State Medical Councils will be immediately shared with the relevant State registration council and updated on the national database.

Additionally, the framework streamlines procedures for Overseas Citizens of India and foreign medical graduates who pass qualifying examinations, such as the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination or the National Exit Test, facilitating their entry into provisional internships.

Under the revised guidelines, temporary registrations granted to foreign nationals will match the exact duration of their course up to a maximum limit of 24 months, an increase from the previous 12-month limit. This will be followed by a mandatory one-year cooling-off period after completing postgraduate or super-specialty medical training programs in India.