Complicated Registration Process On NMR Portal Causing Headache To Doctors

NEW DELHI:  Thousands of MBBS doctors are facing an uphill task to register themselves with the National Medical Register (NMR) portal, launched with much fanfare by Union Health Minister J P Nadda in August.

Now, the doctors are asked not only to upload Aadhar but also to submit an affidavit if their names or state medical council names do not match the current data.

This is especially so in the case of Kerala, where the state medical council name has changed, resulting in doctors running pillars to post to register themselves with the NMR, a comprehensive and dynamic database for allopathic registered doctors in India.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President, Dr K V Asokan, told this paper that doctor’s registration has become very complicated and they will take this up with the National Medical Commission (NMC).

“We will certainly take it up. It is a technical problem and must be rectified. It can be easily resolved. The NMC has to simplify the procedure and change the format. They have to delink the registration with the Aadhar. This will make it easy for the practising doctors,” Asokan said.

He also said they had a discussion with NMC Chairman Dr. B.N. Gangadhar about the NMR.

“This single registration process will help doctors practice in one or more states. They don’t have to get a license to practice in multiple states. Earlier, it was difficult for doctors. They had to obtain a no-objection certificate from their medical council before operating in another state. Doctors were facing a lot of harassment and hardship.”

“The new model helps doctors as it doesn’t affect their seniority and mitigates their suffering. However, the NMC must simplify the procedure for doctors to benefit.”

The NMR is mandated under Section 31 of the NMC Act, 2019, which states that the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC shall maintain a national register in electronic form containing the name, address, and all recognised qualifications possessed by a licensed medical practitioner.

Dr Asokan said doctors in Kerala are finding it difficult to register themselves in NMR as the name of the state medical council has changed.

The Kerala State Medical Council (KSMC) was earlier known as the Travancore Cochin Medical Council (TCMC). The name change of the State Medical Council (SMC) was the beginning of  the problem for Kerala doctors, who have now been asked to file an affidavit to confirm the name change.

And that’s not all. The NMC’s EMRB also wants the doctors to attach their Aadhar. As Aadhar has become mandatory, thousands of doctors in Kerala are finding themselves in a tough spot as their names differ in their degrees, state medical councils and Aadhar.

According to Dr K V Babu, a vast majority of doctors, approximately 70%, registered with the SMC belong to pre-Aadhar days. Thus, their names differ in degree, Aadhar, or even in the SMC.

“They now have to file an affidavit. The registration process will be a non-starter if the NMC insists on an affidavit. I hope the NMC will make registration as simple as during the Medical Council of India (MCI) days. The MBBS degree and SMC registration certificates are sufficient for registration.”

Citing an example, Babu said his name on the certificate was ‘Babu KV’, and in the Aadhar, his name is ‘Babu Kankokkaran VadakkeVeetil’. “I am not alone; lakhs of doctors like me face the same problem. But the NMC insists that most of the 10 lakh Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) should upload an affidavit!”

During the term of the erstwhile MCI, an RMP’s name registered with the SMC was automatically enrolled in the Register. Now, Babu added that the EMRB has asked the RMPs, whose names are already in the Register, to re-register again.

“A simple procedure has been made so complicated. Unless EMRB makes it simple, it will be a total disaster. Hope better sense prevails on the part of the NMC,” he added.

He suggested that the NMC should automatically enroll the RMPs as the MCI did once the SMC verifies the registration number and degree certificates. “There is no need to submit an affidavit.”