Soon, doctors in India will receive their unique identification number. Just like Aadhaar, this number will be a universal ID for doctors across the country.
Last week, the National Medical Commission (NMC) announced that the pilot phase will be launched in 2024, and within six months, all doctors are likely to receive the IDs.
But what is this unique ID, and how will it streamline healthcare in India? Let’s find out.
National Medical Register and Unique IDs for doctors
Until now, the Indian healthcare system lacked uniform identification for doctors across the nation. Doctors registered themselves on state medical councils of the states they wished to work in to obtain the licence.
Currently, 13 lakh doctors are registered with different state medical councils. However, there isn’t any data on how many are available for active service due to the absence of a centralised database.
This is bound to change with the National Medical Register (NMR) which will be rolled out in 2024. As a part of NMR, doctors will receive unique IDs. The NMR will be the central repository and a comprehensive database of all doctors practising in India.
In May 2023, the NMC issued a gazette notification about the NMR, detailing the rules and regulations for doctors to register and obtain a licence. In the press conference last week, the official body announced the launch dates.
“It will be one of the biggest reforms in the medical sector. We hope to commence with the pilot phase in another six months and issue the UIDs by the end of 2024.”
– said Yogendra Malik, a member of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the NMC.
Other features of the NMR
Indian Medical Register to be transferred to NMR
All the existing 13 lakh doctor records in the Indian Medical Register will be moved to the NMR. As a result, doctors who have already registered will not have to re-register themselves.
Medical students will receive masked IDs
All medical students in public and private education institutions will receive masked IDs when they enrol in their courses. All existing students will be able to apply for the IDs during the pilot phase.
These unique IDs will be unmasked when they clear their MBBS exams. Furthermore, they will be able to add their degrees and other certifications against the same ID in future.
Standard processes to follow
The gazette notification also laid down all the processes to be followed for:
- Registration of additional qualifications
- Renewal/transfer of licence
- Removal/restoration of registration
- Denial of licence
This will streamline the medical records management and reduce the administrative burden on the doctors.
How will it benefit the doctors?
Unique IDs
Just like chartered accountants and other professionals, doctors will now have unique IDs, which will serve as a professional recognition tool. It will also instil confidence in patients, enhancing doctor’s credibility.
Avoid multiple registrations
Having one platform to register on will avoid the need to apply on multiple portals for registrations for different states.
They will be able to apply for a licence to practise in different states from one platform with a click of a button. It will reduce the administrative burden for the doctors.
Have all their records in one place
NMR will become one platform for doctors to add and update all their degrees, certifications and other professional qualifications.
How will it benefit the patients?
Check the doctor’s credentials before the visit
A part of the NMR will be open to the public. It will display details like:
- Registration Number
- Name
- Father’s Name
- Date of Registration
- Place of Working (Name of the Hospital/Institute)
- Medical qualifications and speciality
- Name of the Institute(s)/University(s) (Where qualification obtained)
This will allow patients to check their doctor’s degrees and other qualifications before making the visit and avoid them falling prey to scamsters.
How will NMR streamline the Indian healthcare system?
A comprehensive database of doctors
NMR will become the database of all doctors in the country, filling all the data gaps that exist in the Indian healthcare system.
Avoid duplication of records
One central repository will avoid duplication of records, which could take place because different states maintain their own set of records.
Prevent fraud and impersonation
With the emergence of telemedicine, having one platform to check doctors’ credentials will prevent patients from falling prey to unauthorised individuals impersonating healthcare professionals.
Simplify medical records management
Doctors frequently move between hospitals, clinics and healthcare facilities. Many doctors simultaneously work in multiple healthcare settings. NMR will ensure seamless access to doctor’s records, regardless of location.
Bottomline
Rolling out NMR and unique IDs for doctors is an excellent move towards streamlining healthcare in India. However, there are several challenges which the NMC will have to address to ensure the effectiveness of NMR.
A few questions to ponder:
With a weak digital health infrastructure in India, what measures have NMC taken to avoid the registration of fraudulent actors on the platform?
While the data protection bill has been passed, it isn’t yet implemented. In the absence of a data protection bill, how will NMC ensure data security?
