The news that the National Medical Register (NMR) ID is now voluntary comes as a massive relief for the medical fraternity. While the vision of a centralized database for allopathic doctors is theoretically sound for eliminating duplication and ensuring transparency, the ground reality has been a nightmare. Linking Aadhaar for verification and navigating the multi-layered approval process between State Medical Councils and the NMC is incredibly cumbersome for busy practitioners. It is no wonder that less than 1% of doctors registered since last August. Forcing professionals into a rigid digital portal while they are already stretched thin is counterproductive. If the government wants better governance and public access to credentials, they must first streamline the verification timeline and address privacy concerns regarding sensitive data before making such an extensive exercise mandatory for everyone. #medicine #law #governance