In a significant move aimed at deregulating the healthcare sector and addressing the shortage of medical professionals in Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved a draft notification allowing all medical practitioners registered under the National Medical Register (NMR) to practice in the Union Territory without requiring any additional approval or No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Under existing regulations, medical practitioners are required to register with the respective State or Union Territory Medical Council where they intend to practice. However, as Ladakh does not have its own Medical Council or Dental Council, the Lieutenant Governor approved the issuance of a notification making practitioners registered under the National Medical Register eligible to practice in the UT. He also directed the concerned authorities to provide clarity on the matter to applicants and the general public.

The decision is part of the Administration’s ongoing Deregulation 2.0 initiative and is expected to significantly improve the availability of doctors and healthcare professionals, particularly in remote and underserved regions of Ladakh.

For several years, Ladakh has faced an acute shortage of doctors and specialists, with many sanctioned posts remaining vacant. As a result, the healthcare system has relied heavily on contractual doctors, medical officers, and specialists engaged under the National Health Mission (NHM), often affecting the availability of specialised healthcare services in far-flung areas.

“Quality healthcare is a fundamental necessity for every citizen. This reform will help attract more qualified medical practitioners to Ladakh, thereby addressing the shortage of doctors and specialists and strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and difficult areas. It is a major step towards ensuring better access to healthcare services for the people of Ladakh while also advancing the objectives of Deregulation 2.0 and ease of professional practice,” L-G Saxena said.

Under the approved framework, all medical practitioners whose names are duly entered in the National Medical Register maintained under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, shall be eligible to practice in the Union Territory of Ladakh, subject to the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations framed thereunder.

The approval follows extensive deliberations under Priority Area 19 (Healthcare) of Deregulation 2.0, which seeks to simplify the process for medical practitioners registered in any State, Union Territory, or the National Medical Register to practice in another Union Territory without requiring additional approvals or NOCs.

The administration expects the reform to facilitate greater mobility of healthcare professionals, improve staffing in government health institutions, and enhance access to quality healthcare services across Ladakh.