India's National Medical Commission has proposed assigning a centrally generated unique identification number to every registered medical practitioner [1].
The move aims to standardize medical licensing across a fragmented state-based system. By creating a single identity for doctors, the government intends to remove bureaucratic barriers that currently limit where a physician can legally work.
Under the proposal, the unique identification number would allow doctors to practice anywhere in the country without the need to obtain a fresh registration or license [2]. Currently, medical practitioners often face administrative hurdles when moving between states, requiring separate registrations to maintain their legal status to practice medicine [2].
Beyond mobility, the system is designed to improve oversight of professional conduct. The National Medical Commission intends to use these identifiers to enable the central tracking of disciplinary records [2]. This would prevent practitioners from avoiding professional sanctions by simply moving their practice to a different region.
Updating the national register of doctors has been a long-term challenge for the commission. The National Medical Commission has been attempting to update this register for 14 years [3].
While the proposal emphasizes the ability to practice nationwide without new licenses, some reports indicate the commission is also considering a new proposal for the mandatory re-registration of doctors across the nation [3]. This suggests a dual effort to both modernize the registration process, and ensure current credentials remain valid.
“The unique identification number would allow doctors to practise anywhere in the country without obtaining a fresh registration.”
This proposal represents a shift toward the centralization of healthcare regulation in India. By decoupling medical licenses from state boundaries, the government could improve the distribution of medical talent to underserved regions. However, the central tracking of disciplinary records increases state surveillance of professional conduct, ensuring that medical misconduct follows a practitioner regardless of their location.
