What is NMC-compliant marketing for doctors and hospitals in India?
NMC-compliant marketing means following the NMC's Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication of 6 October 2026, read with the 2002 Code of Ethics Regulations. Hospitals and clinics may publish factual, verifiable information about themselves: departments, facilities, services, accreditation, charges and a doctor directory (paras 8.3 and 9.1). Individual doctors may not self-promote, solicit patients or engage a third party to market their services (para 8.1(ii)), but may produce genuinely educational content in their own name (paras 5.1 and 8.2(iii)). Superiority claims, guarantees, offers, testimonials and before-after images are ruled out. Full detail: the complete guide to the NMC advertising guidelines 2026.
Updated 8 October 2026 to the National Medical Commission's Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication by Hospitals/Medical Institutions and Registered Medical Practitioners (public notice No. R-13014/01/2024-Ethics, dated 6 October 2026, in force immediately). Paragraph numbers on this page refer to those guidelines. General information, not legal advice.
Doctors and hospitals: what each may do
| Hospitals, clinics, medical institutions | Individual doctors (RMPs) | |
|---|---|---|
| Factual information | Name, location, contact, departments, facilities, equipment, services, emergency services, accreditation status, charges (para 8.3) | Formal announcements: starting practice, change of address, absence, resumption, charges (para 8.2(ii)) |
| Doctors | A doctor directory with names, qualifications, specialties, registration details and availability (para 9.1); no promotional portrayal of an individual doctor (para 8.3) | No self-promotion, no solicitation, no third party engaged to market medical services (para 8.1(ii)); no photograph used as self-advertisement (para 9.2) |
| Education | Normal-course information without promotional intent is not advertising (para 3.2, Explanation I) | Educational content and public-health talks in the doctor's own name and designation (paras 5.1 and 8.2(iii)) |
| Ruled out | "Best", "No.1", "top", "leading" claims without a disclosed methodology (8.1(ix)); "100% success" or "painless" (8.1(iii)); discounts, offers and free procedures (8.1(x)); testimonials and before-after images (8.1(v), 8.1(xi)); fake or manipulated reviews (Explanation V; 8.1(xii)); AI-generated promotional campaigns (7.2) | |
Any post that names a doctor must disclose the doctor's name, qualifications, registration status and SMC/NMR registration number (Explanation III and IV). Publishing through an agency does not shift responsibility (para 4.4). For hospitals, the Clinical Establishments Act or State Act prevails in an irreconcilable conflict (para 4.3).
Read next
- NMC advertising guidelines 2026: the complete guide
- Hospital and clinic advertising under the NMC guidelines
- Education-first medical SEO and content
- NMC guidelines for doctors on social media
- Free NMC compliance check for a hospital's or clinic's website, Google Business Profile and social channels
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Common questions
Are doctors allowed to advertise in India?
Only in a limited way. Under the NMC's guidelines of 6 October 2026, read with the 2002 Code of Ethics Regulations, a doctor may not solicit patients, self-promote or engage a third party to market medical services (para 8.1(ii)). Doctors may make formal factual announcements such as starting practice or a change of address (para 8.2(ii)) and produce genuinely educational content in their own name and designation (paras 5.1 and 8.2(iii)).
What are the new NMC guidelines for doctors and hospitals?
The Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication by Hospitals/Medical Institutions and Registered Medical Practitioners, public notice of 6 October 2026, in force immediately. They cover digital, social-media, search and AI-assisted promotion (para 3.2), bar superiority claims, offers, testimonials and fake reviews (para 8.1), let hospitals publish factual information (para 8.3), and set graded action that may be contemplated for violations (para 10.1).
