Indian Medical Association states that more than 10 lakh quack doctors practise medicine in India, and a large number of people face death or medical complications after being treated by quack doctors.
Patients in India can verify their doctor’s registration before treatment by searching for their name and registration number on the website of the National Medical Commission’s Indian Medical Register and the respective State Medical Council.
The steps to check a doctor’s details are fairly easy; one must match the doctor’s name, registration number and qualifications with the official records to confirm whether the doctor is registered in the country to practise modern medicine in the country.
Go to the National Medical Commission website portal, click on the information tab and choose National Medical Register or Indian Medical Register.
A person can search for a specific doctor using 2 different methods:
A doctor can be looked up on the NMC portal through their registration number or simply by the doctor’s name. The National Medical Register also provides search options using the State Medical Council, year of registration, NMR ID and licence type, including active or suspended status.
A doctor’s registration number is usually on the medical documents that a person might receive from the doctor’s office or a hospital. These documents could be a prescription or test reports.
The next step to verify a doctor is to enter the doctor’s registration number along with the appropriate State Council and match the details with the medical documents that you received from the doctor or any details that are available online on the hospital’s website, the doctor’s own website or any kind of advertisements.
If the doctor’s details cannot be found or appear inconsistent, check the relevant State Medical Council’s own registration records and contact the council if clarification is required.
Compare the doctor’s details with the details provided by the doctor, which include: name of the doctor, registration number, state medical council, year of registration and medical qualifications.
The portal creates a report right away. If the doctor or practitioner is real, you will see their full profile. The screen will show if they are currently active, their father’s name, their qualifications, and the year they got their license.
Registration verification can help confirm whether a doctor appears in the relevant medical register and provide registration-related details. Patients should separately verify claims about qualifications, specialisation, hospital affiliation and other professional credentials where necessary.
If a doctor’s details do not appear in an online register, patients should not immediately assume that the person is unregistered. They should cross-check the relevant State Medical Council and contact the council or NMC for clarification where necessary, as the NMC’s Indian Medical Register states that its data is being updated.
The NMC only provides verification details for doctors who practice modern medicine and allopathy.
However, if a person wants to verify details about doctors from Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga and Homoeopathy, they need to go to the Ministry of AYUSH Portal and check for the details of these traditional doctors.
The NMC also has an option to check for doctors who have been blacklisted. The website provides information about the doctor’s name, registration number and the date of suspension.
It is highly important for people to verify a doctor before they go for treatment, and digital verification is highly effective; however, a patient must be equally vigilant when visiting a doctor physically.
The environment of a doctor’s clinic might give away signs that can help a person identify potential fraud.
If there are missing display boards with no prominent registration numbers.
If the prescription does not include the doctor’s name, designation and registration particulars.
If the doctor hesitates while discussing his registration number or other details about his medical degree and license.
If a person is offered overtly low prices for treatment or surgery.
It is advised that a patient verify the doctor’s details before they seek medical advice or treatment.