How to Verify Your Psychiatrist on the NMC Indian Medical Register

In India, the title “doctor” can be claimed loosely. The legal title that matters for diagnosing ADHD and prescribing medication is “registered medical practitioner”. Verification is straightforward, free, and takes about two minutes.

What you are checking

A psychiatrist treating ADHD should hold:

• An MBBS, the basic medical qualification.
• A postgraduate qualification in psychiatry: MD Psychiatry, DPM, or DNB Psychiatry.
• Registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) on the Indian Medical Register, or with the relevant State Medical Council. Registration with one is sufficient for legal practice.

The registration is what gives the practitioner the authority to diagnose and prescribe. Without it, no qualification, however impressive, gives someone the right to write a prescription in India.

Step-by-step verification

1. Ask the practitioner directly for their registration number, the council that issued it, and the year. Most reputable doctors share this without hesitation. The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 require it to be displayed at the place of practice.
2. Open the National Medical Commission’s lookup at nmc.org.in. Use the “Indian Medical Register” or “Search Doctors” tool.
3. Enter the registration number, the council, or the doctor’s name. The lookup returns a record showing name, registration number, year, and the qualification on which registration was based.
4. If the practitioner says they are registered with a State Medical Council, the relevant State Council also has a public lookup. Search for “State Medical Council [your state]” to find it.
5. Cross-check the qualification on the register against what the practitioner claims to hold. Most discrepancies are clerical, but occasional misrepresentation does occur.

What registration confirms

A clean registration record on the NMC Indian Medical Register or a State Medical Council register confirms:

• The person holds an MBBS or equivalent recognised by Indian medical regulation.
• They are legally entitled to practise medicine in India.
• They have the basic qualification on which the registration was issued (often visible on the record).

What registration does not confirm

A few things to keep in mind:

• The register confirms basic registration; it does not always reflect specialist training depth.
• It does not tell you whether the doctor has experience with ADHD specifically.
• It does not tell you whether the doctor is a good clinician for your situation.
• Where a doctor has multiple registrations (state plus national), the public lookup may show the older one only.

Registration is necessary, not sufficient. Combine it with the other verification steps in the verify-your-doctor guide on this site.

Specialist qualifications

Postgraduate qualifications a psychiatrist may hold:

• MD Psychiatry: a three-year postgraduate degree following MBBS.
• DPM: a two-year diploma in psychiatry, an older qualification still recognised.
• DNB Psychiatry: a three-year qualification awarded by the National Board of Examinations, equivalent in legal status to MD Psychiatry.

For child and adolescent work, additional training is usually undertaken, sometimes formalised as a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry.

What to do if verification fails

If a search returns no record, or the record contradicts what the practitioner claimed:

• Ask the practitioner directly to clarify. Sometimes the discrepancy is administrative.
• Consider whether you have searched the correct council. Practitioners sometimes hold older state registrations that are not in the NMC central lookup.
• If the practitioner cannot account for the discrepancy, the appropriate response is to look elsewhere.
• The NMC and State Medical Councils accept complaints about misrepresentation. A complaint is rarely necessary for an individual to make; the verification step alone is enough to protect yourself.

A note on online consultations

The Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020 require the practitioner to share their registration number with the patient. If you are consulting online and the practitioner has not provided the registration details, you are entitled to ask. This is part of the legal framework, not an awkward question.

Frequently asked questions

Is BAMS or BHMS sufficient for treating ADHD?

No. BAMS (Ayurveda) and BHMS (homeopathy) practitioners are registered under separate councils. They are not authorised to prescribe psychiatric medications such as methylphenidate or atomoxetine. Some BAMS / BHMS practitioners offer services that they describe as relevant to ADHD; this article makes no claim about the merit of those services, but it does note that they are outside the regulatory framework that applies to ADHD pharmacotherapy.

What about MD General Medicine doctors who treat ADHD?

A registered medical practitioner can lawfully prescribe medications. Whether they have specialist training in psychiatric assessment and management is a separate question. For straightforward adult ADHD continuation of an established treatment plan, an experienced general physician sometimes does the prescribing in continuity with a psychiatrist’s diagnosis. For diagnosis and complex cases, a psychiatrist is the appropriate specialist.

Can a psychologist prescribe ADHD medication?

No. In India, only registered medical practitioners can prescribe. Clinical psychologists registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India have an essential role in assessment and therapy, but not prescription.

How current is the NMC register?

It is updated regularly but not in real-time. Recent changes (registrations, suspensions, removals) may take a few weeks to reflect. For most practical purposes, the register is reliable.

Sources

• National Medical Commission (nmc.org.in).
• Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
• Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020.
• Relevant State Medical Council websites.