NATHEALTH, the Healthcare Federation of India, has welcomed the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) move enabling Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) to remotely review and digitally authenticate electronic medical records. It described the decision as a step towards strengthening digital health and making healthcare more accessible across the country.
A diagnosis or treatment decision often depends on a specialist reviewing a report or signing off on a clinical document. In smaller towns and remote areas, where specialists are fewer, this can mean longer waiting periods or travel to a larger city. Allowing a qualified doctor to review and authenticate records securely from another location can help patients receive expert opinions closer to home, with less delay, cost and anxiety.
For hospitals, diagnostic centres and other providers, the move allows specialist expertise to be extended across their networks and supports digital clinical workflows.
NATHEALTH has consistently advocated for this change and recommended it to the Government as part of its efforts to build an enabling environment for digital healthcare. The NMC advisory covers laboratory, pathology and radiology reports, diagnostic interpretations, discharge summaries and other electronic clinical documents.
The advisory also places patient safety at the centre of the process. Doctors must review the relevant clinical information and exercise independent professional judgement before authenticating a record. They remain fully accountable for the records they authenticate.
Dr Sangita Reddy, President, NATHEALTH and Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, said, “This is a progressive and much-needed step for healthcare in India. NATHEALTH has consistently advocated for remote authentication of medical records and had recommended it to the Government, and we are glad to see it recognised. When a patient’s report no longer has to wait for a doctor to be physically present at the facility, care becomes faster and more accessible. It strengthens digital health in the country, while keeping clinical judgement, accountability and patient safety at the core.”
Mr Shankha Banerjee, Treasurer, NATHEALTH and CEO, Dr Lal PathLabs, said, “The NMC’s clarification is a progressive and much-needed step for improved patient service. For a long time, there was uncertainty about signing off reports remotely. The NMC’s clarification settles that, and it does so without compromising accountability, since the doctor’s responsibility for every report stays exactly where it should be. For a diagnostics provider, this matters a great deal. It will help us extend service hours availability and reach more patients, including in places where specialists aren’t always available on site. Patients get their quality reports faster, and that is what matters.”
Ameera Shah, Promoter and Executive Chairperson of Metropolis Healthcare, said, “This is an important step towards a more connected and accessible healthcare system for India. As quality care expands into smaller cities and towns, patients should not have to travel to a metro for an expert opinion. Allowing doctors to remotely review and authenticate medical records will help bridge geographical gaps, support timely clinical decisions and make better use of the country’s medical expertise. We commend the government for its serious commitment to improving the ease of doing business in healthcare. This amendment is one in a series of progressive reforms that are steadily making the sector more efficient. At the same time, it is essential to enforce minimum standards for laboratories, so that consistency and safety remain at the core of diagnostics. Enabling regulations, complemented by robust quality standards, can accelerate digital health while strengthening accountability and patient trust.”
NATHEALTH said India’s healthcare system is increasingly digital, but the benefits of this shift will reach patients only if regulation keeps pace with technology. The federation said the NMC’s move was a step in that direction and that it would continue to work with the Government, the NMC and other stakeholders to support implementation and develop policies that bring healthcare within easier reach of patients across the country.