Telangana Doctors Raise Concerns Over National Medical Commission's NMR Plan
Medical professionals in Hyderabad have raised serious concerns over the National Medical Commission's plan to establish a National Medical Register, warning that the move would force doctors to undergo a redundant re-registration process and pay additional fees.
The proposed National Medical Register is envisioned as a centralised database to verify doctors' qualifications and registration status, enabling cross-state medical practice through a unique identification number linked to state registration numbers. However, representatives from the medical fraternity and the Telangana Medical Council have flagged multiple issues with the draft guidelines, regulatory oversight, and technical hurdles on the registration portal.
Dr G. Srinivas, a member of the Telangana Medical Council, stated that the proposed framework could introduce significant confusion when tracking doctors facing disciplinary or legal proceedings. Currently, medical practitioners must obtain a No Objection Certificate from their respective state medical councils before practicing in another state. Under the proposed register, Dr Srinivas warned that doctors might find it easier to practice anywhere in the country even while formal cases against them remain unresolved.
Financial burdens have also drawn sharp criticism from local doctors. In Telangana, medical practitioners already pay a first-time registration fee of Rs 5,000 and an additional renewal fee of Rs 1,000 to the state council. Doctors questioned the necessity of paying yet another fee for a national register, pointing out that state medical councils already submit complete lists of registered professionals to the authorities on an annual basis. They recommended that the commission collect data directly from state bodies rather than mandating fresh registrations.
Technical discrepancies on the portal have added to the complications. Doctors attempting to enter their credentials reported that certain legacy institutions, such as colleges previously affiliated with the Dr NTR University of Health Sciences in undivided Andhra Pradesh, were not listed, complicating entries for those now under the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences in Telangana. Furthermore, mismatches between Aadhaar records and educational certificates, particularly where initials replace full names, have stalled the verification process.
The move comes as the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the commission seeks to amend the Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations. Doctors have urged the regulatory body to halt the current process and revise the draft guidelines based on formal input from state medical councils and practicing professionals.
