NMC Gives 15 Days to Remove Unauthorized Dr. Title
The Nepal Medical Council has issued a highly urgent notice directing health workers or individuals, other than physicians registered with the Council and those who have received the title of “physician” under their respective professional council Act, to remove the illegally used “Doctor” (Dr.) title within 15 days.
In the notice issued on 2083 Jestha 09, the Council stated that non-physician health workers and other unrelated individuals have been using the “Doctor” (Dr.) title before their names without authorization in various hospitals, private clinics, consultation centers, and social media, in direct violation of the legal provisions mentioned in the Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020.
According to the Council, serious attention has been drawn to cases where such individuals have been found practicing medicine, writing prescriptions/consultations for medicines, and creating serious confusion among the general public.
The notice states that, as per the preamble of the Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020, the Council’s main responsibility is to ensure the scientific use of the modern medical system across Nepal, determine the qualifications of physicians, and protect the health interests of the general public.
The Council recalled its previous decision, the public notice issued on 2078 Kartik 10, and the provision under Section 2, Definition (d) of the Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020, which states that “physician” means a person who has obtained a bachelor’s degree in medicine under the modern medical system from a recognized educational institution and is engaged in the related profession.
The notice also states that under Section 2, Definition (d1) of the same Act, “specialist physician” means a physician who has obtained a postgraduate degree, degree, or diploma in the relevant subject from a recognized educational institution and has received the prescribed specialist training while being engaged in the related profession.
The Council stated that Section 17(1) of the Act provides that no person shall write or cause to be written with their name any degree, diploma, certificate, license, or title related to modern medicine that they have not obtained, for the purpose of performing medical work related to modern medicine.
Provisions Published in the Notice
Health workers or individuals from any discipline, whether registered or not registered with any other concerned council, except physicians registered with the Nepal Medical Council and those who have obtained the title of “physician” under their respective professional council Act, must fully remove the illegally used “Doctor” (Dr.) title before their names from official documents, prescription pads, clinic signboards, visiting cards, and all social media within 15 days from the date of publication of the notice.
Obtaining an academic degree from various universities in Nepal or abroad with the word “Doctor” mentioned in the certificate does not automatically mean that permission has been granted to practice medicine independently. The notice clarifies that the legal right to treat patients, provide consultations, and use the title “Doctor/Physician” before one’s name under the modern medical system in Nepal is vested only in physicians registered with the Council under the Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020.
If any person, other than physicians registered with the Nepal Medical Council, whether registered or not registered in any discipline or council, creates confusion about modern medicine by using only the title (Dr./डा.) before their name, or is found recommending modern medicines, the act will be deemed contrary to the provisions of Section 26(1) and Section 17(1) of the Council’s Act. In such cases, a recommendation will be made for punishment under Section 26(3) and Section 17(2), which may include imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to Rs. 3,000, or both.
Immediately after the 15-day deadline specified in the notice expires, the Council’s special monitoring team will conduct strict monitoring through on-site and digital means. If monitoring finds that the “Dr.” title has been used illegally in violation of the Act, or that patients have been examined/consulted under the cover of that title, the matter will be submitted to the concerned authority to initiate a case for the offense under Sections 26 and 17 of the Nepal Medical Council Act, 2020.
The Council stated that it will adopt a zero-tolerance policy against individuals who mock the medical field and profession, which are directly related to public health and patient safety. The notice was issued by the Nepal Medical Council, Bansbari, Kathmandu. The Council has made public the phone numbers 4371964/4371924 and the email address nmc@nmc.org.np.
