Glossary term · Accreditation & quality
National Medical Commission (NMC) (also: NMC): The National Medical Commission is India’s statutory body, set up under the NMC Act 2019, that regulates medical education and medical practitioners.
The National Medical Commission is India’s statutory regulator for medical education and practice. It was established under the National Medical Commission Act 2019 and sits under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. For international patients its most useful feature is the Indian Medical Register, which lets you check that a doctor is registered.
How is the NMC organised?
The NMC website describes it as a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It has four autonomous boards:
- Under-Graduate Medical Education Board.
- Post-Graduate Medical Education Board.
- Medical Assessment and Rating Board.
- Ethics and Medical Registration Board.
Which NMC tools help patients?
The NMC website hosts the Indian Medical Register. It lists doctors registered with the State Medical Councils across India and can be searched by name, registration number, year of registration or state council. The site also links to the National Medical Register for registration.
How should you use this when choosing a doctor?
- Ask the hospital for the doctor’s full name, registration number and registering council.
- Search the Indian Medical Register and compare the details.
- Check that qualifications match what the hospital has told you.
- Remember that registration confirms legal standing to practise. It does not show experience in a specific operation.
The NMC regulates individual doctors and medical education. Hospital quality is assessed separately, for example by NABH accreditation.
Questions people ask
Does the NMC accredit hospitals?
No. The NMC regulates medical education and medical practitioners. Hospital accreditation is a separate matter, handled by bodies such as NABH and JCI. Check accreditation directly with the accrediting body.
What if I cannot find a doctor on the register?
The NMC notes its register data is still being updated. Try other spellings or search by registration number and council. If you still cannot confirm registration, ask the hospital for the registration certificate and check with the state medical council.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.