Doctors must Display Registration number on Lab reports, prescriptions, certificates, money receipts: NMC

New Delhi: While replying to a Right to Information application, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently stated that it is mandatory for the doctors to display their registration number in the prescriptions, lab reports, certificates and money receipts given to the patients.

NMC, the Apex medical commission has confirmed the rules in this regard while referring to the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethic) Regulations 2002.

As per Section 1.4 of the Regulations, which mentions about display of registration numbers, the rules specify that 

1.4.1. Every physician shall display the registration number accorded to him by the State Medical Council/ Medical Council of India in his clinic and in all his prescriptions, certificates, money receipts given to his patients.

1.4.2. Physicians shall display as suffix to their names only recognized medical degrees or such certificates/diplomas and memberships/honours which confer professional knowledge or recognizes any exemplary qualifications/achievements.

Apart from this Section 3.7.2. of the Regulations clarify that "A Physician shall write his name and designation in full along with registration particulars in his prescription letter head."

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The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC was responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Dr Rohit Jain from Jaipur on 28.07.2022.  The Ethics Section of NMC received the query on 22.08.2022.

Filing the application under the Right to Information Act, 2005, Dr. Jain had sought to know if it is mandatory as per law to display graduate/ postgraduate qualification and Registration number of a Registered Medical Practitioner/ Specialist (State Medical Council/ National Medical Commission) working in a Clinical Establishment on laboratory Report, Prescriptions, certificates, money receipts given to his patients.

Responding to this, the Ethics Board of Apex medical body NMC replied on 23.09.2022, "In this regard, you are requested to refer to the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette, and Ethic) Regulations, 2002 as amended from time to time which are already available in public domain."

Referring to the relevant portions of the Regulations, NMC also clarified that "In Government Hospital where the patient-load is heavy, the name of the prescribing doctor must be written below his/her signature."

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