New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released a public notice instructing all medical colleges and institutions across India to strictly maintain authentic and verifiable patient records, effective immediately.

This directive focuses on enhancing transparency, data reliability, and accountability within teaching hospitals affiliated with medical colleges. It is especially critical for maintaining quality medical education standards and ensuring the integrity of clinical data used in academic evaluations.

Purpose of the Directive:

The NMC’s directive emphasizes the mandatory use of ABHA-ID (Ayushman Bharat Health Account ID) during patient registration in hospitals. This step is aimed at:

• Ensuring that authentic clinical material is available for medical training and evaluation.
• Preventing the use of fabricated patient records.
• Promoting consistency in medical record-keeping across all institutions.

Despite an earlier circular issued on June 4, 2024 (Public Notice No. N-16021/20/2024-IT-NMC), the NMC observed non-compliance from many medical colleges, particularly in recording ABHA-IDs for all patients.

Key Highlights of the NMC’s Public Notice:

Mandatory Documentation

• Medical colleges must record all patient interactions, including those in OPD, IPD, and emergency services.
• Inpatient records must be signed by both faculty members and senior residents with their full name and signature.

Faculty Validation

• All diagnostic and investigative reports must be reviewed and signed by the respective department’s faculty member.

ABHA-ID Requirement

• The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA-ID) must be recorded alongside hospital registration numbers.
• This ensures the use of genuine clinical data for academic purposes and assessments.

Strict Action for Non-Compliance

• Any instances of fake or manipulated records will result in disciplinary action against the concerned faculty or institution.
• The NMC may conduct verification audits during academic evaluations.

This move highlights the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) increasing focus on key areas such as data integrity, ethical medical practices, enhanced standards of patient care, and accountability in medical education. By mandating the maintenance of genuine and verifiable patient records, the NMC aims to ensure that clinical data used for teaching and evaluation is accurate, reliable, and transparent.

All medical colleges and teaching institutions are strongly advised to comply immediately with the new guidelines. Following these standards is important not only to avoid possible penalties but also to fulfil the regulatory requirements set by the NMC for academic inspections, approval of seats, yearly renewals, and overall institutional evaluations in the upcoming academic sessions.