AFMS Doctors To Practise Across India Under New NMC Draft Rules

Hyderabad – The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released draft rules allowing doctors commissioned in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) to register with a single State Medical Council (SMC) and practise anywhere in India for the duration of their service.

Under the proposed regulations, AFMS doctors will no longer need multiple state registrations, reflecting the mobile nature of their duties. The draft, part of the “Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023,” aims to streamline regulatory requirements for military medical officers.

Key provisions of the draft include:

• Practitioners’ licences will not be suspended solely for missing renewal deadlines.
• The AFMS will submit annual records and renewal information of commissioned doctors to the relevant SMC and the NMC.
• Alleged misconduct will be addressed by the SMC where the doctor is registered, in consultation with the state where the incident occurred.
• Upon retirement, doctors must transfer their registration to the state where they plan to practise.

The NMC has opened the draft for public feedback, inviting stakeholders to send objections or suggestions via email within 30 days. The final rules will come into effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.

This move is expected to reduce administrative hurdles for AFMS doctors and ensure smoother medical service delivery across the country.