Huge update for the medical fraternity! The government has finally clarified that registering for the National Medical Register (NMR) ID is voluntary, not mandatory. This comes as a massive relief to doctors who have been protesting against the 'cumbersome' registration process. Launched in August 2024 to create a centralized database of allopathic practitioners and eliminate duplication, the NMR was intended to link every doctor’s record to their Aadhaar for verification. However, with less than 1% of the 13.8 lakh doctors registering by May 2025, the Minister had to address the low turnout. While the goal of transparency and public access to doctor credentials is noble, the technical hurdles and verification delays at the State Medical Council level made it a headache. If you are a medical professional, does this move make you more or less likely to sign up eventually? #health #policy #governance