NMC releases draft regulations governing registration of Indian and foreign medical graduates in India

Mumbai, April 9, 2022:

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has come out with draft Regulations of Licence to Practice Medicine, 2022 & Registration of Additional Qualifications-2022 and Temporary Registration of the Foreign Medical Practitioner to Practice Medicine in India.

These regulations together stipulate the process of registration of doctors in the National Medical Register. Currently, all medical practitioners have to register with their respective state medical councils to practice medicine. At present, there is a national register of doctors, which is framed by sourcing data from all states. However, the draft regulation seeks to put in place a regularly updated national register.

Until such time the national register comes into force the existing system of the registration of medical practitioners shall continue. Registration of additional qualifications shall be deemed to be valid till such time that licence to practice medicine is valid.

As per the draft regulations, the NMC will issue a unique ID to all students who pass the NEET and get admission to recognised medical colleges. The portal will then allow colleges to update their student data and upload all verified degrees and certificates. The same ID will be updated when the student does a post-graduation, a super-speciality course, or any other recognised training programme.

The draft guidelines also make doctors responsible to keep updating their registration with details of additional qualifications, change in employment, contact details, or place of work as soon as the change occurs. Currently, the registration maintained by states is updated only when doctors re-register themselves every five years.

As per the draft regulations of licence to practice medicine, Indian medical graduates have to complete their MBBS degree from a recognised college, do their mandatory 12-month long internship, and clear the upcoming National Exit Test (NExT) to get licence to practice medicine.

To get licence to practice medicine in India, foreign medical graduates need to complete their MBBS-equivalent degree from a medical institute “recognised and listed by the NMC in other countries, be registerable as a medical practitioner in the said country, complete a 12-month internship in India, and pass the same NExT exam.

Unlike Indian medical graduates who get registration after they complete their MBBS, foreign medical graduates have to clear a screening test before they do. Before NExT comes into force, the existing system of the registration of medical practitioners shall continue.

An Indian medical graduate or foreign medical graduate who has been registered in the Indian Medical Register maintained under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and/or registered by a State Medical Council prior to the coming into force of NMC Act and before the National Exit Test becomes operational, shall be deemed to have enrolled in the National Register maintained under this Act and hence obtained license to practice medicine.

Draft regulation for Registration of Additional Qualifications 2022 says, “In pursuance of the provisions of Section 33 (3) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019; when a person whose name entered in the State Medical Register and National Medical Register as the case may be, obtained any title, diploma or any other qualification for proficiency in sciences or public health which is a recognized medical qualification under section 35 or section 36, as the case may be, shall be entitled to have such qualification entered against the person’s name in the National Register/State Register as specified by the regulations.”

Additional qualifications are typically postgraduate qualifications such as postgraduate degrees, diplomas, super-specialisation degrees, and doctoral degrees as may be approved and notified by the NMC and degrees and diplomas and other qualifications recognized by the National Board of Examinations and deemed recognized by the NMC. It also includes post graduate medical qualifications obtained from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America as added in Clause (4)(4) of the Screening Test Regulations, 2002.

Draft regulations for Temporary Registration of the Foreign Medical Practitioner to Practice Medicine in India makes provisions for short duration registrations for doctors from other countries to study in India, do fellowships, do clinical research, and voluntary community work. They also have a provision for registering foreign medical experts for practicing medicine (such as live surgeries) at a workshop or seminar in India. The temporary registration can be for a maximum period of 12 months, with the registration expiring either at the end of the programme for which it was granted, or the date on which a valid visa expires.

No foreign medical practitioner shall carry out his professional work in India unless granted a temporary registration. After satisfaction of the following stipulations that his practice shall be limited to the purpose conditions if any specified, of the temporary registration; he shall be in good standing and shall provide a certificate by the concerned medical council or licencing board as the case may be, issued within a stipulated period not prior to 6 months. The sponsor shall be responsible for the professional conduct of the individual.

The commission has invited comments from stakeholders on the draft regulations by May 6, 2022. PhamaBiz