MedicalRegister – NMC Faces Delays as Thousands of Doctor Registrations Remain Pending
MedicalRegister – The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued certificates to only a small fraction of medical practitioners who applied for inclusion in the National Medical Register (NMR), highlighting significant delays in the implementation of one of the country’s major healthcare database initiatives.
Slow Progress Raises Concerns
According to records from NMC meetings, around 1,800 Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) have received NMR certificates over the past two years. This figure represents only about 0.05% of the applicants who sought registration through the portal.
The issue was discussed during the Commission’s 17th meeting, where members reviewed the status of the registration process and expressed concerns about the pace of progress. The meeting was chaired by NMC Chairman Dr. Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth, and participants suggested the formation of a dedicated committee to identify solutions and accelerate the updating of the National Medical Register.
Large Number of Applications Await Verification
Meeting records dated January 7 indicate that approximately 30,000 applications remain pending verification at various stages. These applications are currently being processed by State Medical Councils (SMCs) and the National Medical Commission.
Officials noted that the NMR project requires further discussion and policy-level deliberation. The register was envisioned as a centralized database containing details of all registered practitioners of modern medicine across India.
Technical and Administrative Challenges Identified
During discussions on the functioning of the NMR portal, several operational difficulties were highlighted. These included low participation because of voluntary enrollment, mismatches between data maintained by State Medical Registers and the NMR system, and technical limitations affecting the efficiency of the registration workflow.
Minutes from a meeting held on December 16, 2025, attended by 33 members, recorded that authorities are examining these challenges and working on measures aimed at improving the portal’s performance and functionality.
The NMR portal was formally launched by Union Health Minister JP Nadda in August 2024 as part of efforts to create a unified national database of medical professionals.
Registration Policy Shifted from Mandatory to Voluntary
Initially, registration on the National Medical Register was intended to be compulsory for doctors. Government data presented in Parliament in 2023 estimated the number of Registered Medical Practitioners in India at around 13.5 lakh.
However, after the rollout encountered difficulties and participation remained limited, the Health Ministry later clarified that enrollment would be voluntary. This change was communicated in a written reply submitted in Parliament on August 8, 2025.
The response came after Samajwadi Party MP Aditya Yadav sought information regarding the slow implementation of the NMR project and the reasons behind the delayed rollout.
Need for a Unified Registration Platform
During the Commission meeting, NMC Secretary Dr. Raghav Langer informed members that different State Medical Councils currently operate through separate online systems and, in some cases, offline registration mechanisms.
Officials emphasized the importance of developing a common nationwide registration platform that would allow seamless and real-time synchronization between State Medical Registers and the National Medical Register. The proposed committee is expected to examine this issue in consultation with technology experts and present recommendations in future meetings.
Stakeholders Continue to Voice Concerns
The meeting documents were provided to RTI activist Dr. K.V. Babu in response to an information request filed under the Right to Information Act.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. Babu said concerns regarding the NMR portal had been raised by stakeholders shortly after its launch. He noted that many professionals had anticipated implementation difficulties from the beginning and believed the registration process required substantial improvements.
He also stressed the importance of creating a reliable national database of medical practitioners, describing it as a critical resource for healthcare planning and policy decisions, including assessments related to establishing new medical colleges across the country.