Redefining medical practice with a centralised registry

A recent regulatory draft issued by the National Medical Commission seeks to address gaps in cross-state medical practice. It marks a major shift in how professional misconduct is tracked.

The urgency of this reform was triggered by the shocking case of Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, an impostor who posed as a UK-trained cardiologist under the name ‘Dr John Camm’. For over two decades, Yadav evaded regional authorities and practised across multiple states. He performed cardiac procedures at hospitals in Chhattisgarh, Hyderabad, and Madhya Pradesh.

His practice came to a halt in April 2025 when he was arrested in Damoh following an investigation into the deaths of seven patients under his care. Historically, unsynchronised records made it easy for quacks to slip through the cracks.

Under the proposed regulations published on August 11, 2026, a unique identifier will electronically link state registers to a centralised database. Disciplinary actions, licence suspensions, and inactive statuses will be updated automatically.

This draft also mandates a five-year licence renewal cycle to keep the registry accurate and empowers the State Medical Council in the State where the doctor has provided services to conduct disciplinary proceedings, rather than the State where the doctor was registered.

The proposed integration is likely to heighten the legal anxieties of doctors already operating under a tightening regulatory net. A single allegation or minor administrative oversight can now instantly jeopardise their credentials and professional reputation across the country. On the other hand, patients will, for the first time, have an authoritative source to verify a doctor’s credentials.

Safeguarding medical practice in this highly monitored climate requires a concerted effort. Providers of healthcare solutions and advanced therapies must step forward with protective resources, robust risk-management tools, and legal education. This will help healthcare providers navigate these regulatory challenges safely and with confidence.

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The Draft of the Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations 2026, uploaded on 14/08/2026, can be accessed at https://www.nmc.org.in/information-desk/all-news/