NMC proposes nationwide practicing rights for armed forces doctors

New Delhi: Doctors serving in the armed forces may soon be allowed to practice across India without the need for multiple state registrations, according to draft regulations released by the National Medical Commission (NMC).In a notification issued earlier this month, the NMC proposed to amend its regulations 2023 to streamline licensing norms for Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) doctors.According to the draft, doctors commissioned by AFMS will only need to register with a state medical council of their choice but will be authorized to practice in any state or union territory during the period of service. The proposed relaxations will only apply during active service and doctors will revert to standard state registration norms upon retirement.The move is intended to remove administrative barriers for military doctors, who are often deployed to states and currently face procedural challenges related to multiple registrations. Dr. Rajesh Bhardwaj, consultant otolaryngologist at MedFirst Otolaryngology Centre, said registration in multiple states often hinders timely care. “Due to lack of local registration, doctors may not even be able to perform life-saving surgeries in NCR. These are pointless hurdles,” he said, adding that single registration under NMC will remove “bureaucratic paralysis” and enable seamless healthcare.The draft also proposes that additional medical qualifications registered in one state would remain valid nationwide during the period of service to ensure uniform recognition across jurisdictions.The license of AFMS doctors will not be deactivated due to delayed renewal and the armed forces are required to submit annual records to the relevant state medical board, an important relaxation, the NMC said.Additionally, regulations relating to license transfer will not apply to these practitioners while they are in employment, effectively enabling seamless practice across the country.The draft also lays out a mechanism for handling cases of alleged professional misconduct involving doctors of the armed forces. While a complaint may be filed in the state where the incident occurred, the registered state medical board will retain final jurisdiction to take action. On accountability, Dr. Bhardwaj said the problem lies with the state medical boards. “Many functions like closed networks, weakening action in negligence cases. National frameworks can reduce this bias,” he said, calling reforms “long overdue”, adding that “an NMC certification should be enough to implement everywhere.”The NMC has sought objections and suggestions from stakeholders for 30 days, after which the regulations will be finalized.The proposal is expected to ease operational constraints for doctors in the armed forces and ensure continuity of care for personnel and their families across different postings.