To remove confusion over whether doctors can remotely authenticate medical records using digital signatures, as healthcare increasingly shifts to digital platforms and telemedicine, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that registered medical practitioners can remotely review and authenticate electronic clinical documents, subject to existing legal and professional requirements.

In an advisory issued on October 13, the NMC said there was “no prohibition” under the existing legal framework against doctors remotely authenticating laboratory, pathology and radiology reports, diagnostic interpretations, discharge summaries and other clinical documents.

The clarification follows a recommendation by the High-Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms to facilitate digital and electronic signatures in medical practice under the Information Technology Act, 2000. The move is aimed at improving access to healthcare, making service delivery more efficient and reducing regulatory uncertainty.

However, the commission stressed that remote authentication does not dilute doctors’ professional, ethical or legal responsibilities. Doctors must personally review the relevant clinical information and exercise independent professional judgment before signing a document. Where the available information is insufficient, they must refrain from authenticating it until the necessary review or verification has been completed.

The advisory states that “digital authentication is a mode of signing and not a substitute for clinical review, professional judgement or statutory responsibility.” Doctors, therefore, cannot authenticate medical records merely by applying their digital signatures without examining the relevant clinical information.

The NMC has also specified that doctors can authenticate records remotely only within the scope of their professional engagement with the healthcare establishment concerned and where they have lawful access to the relevant clinical records.

To prevent misuse, healthcare establishments must maintain appropriate security measures, audit trails, authentication logs and date and time stamps to protect the confidentiality and integrity of medical records. The advisory also states that digital-signature credentials, authentication data and access tokens must remain under the control of the concerned doctor and cannot be shared, delegated or transferred to another person.

The commission has clarified the position on foreign medical experts as well. While they may provide remote consultations or second opinions to Indian healthcare establishments, this does not automatically authorise them to independently certify Indian medical records or practise medicine in India.

The NMC said the advisory was “clarificatory in nature”, explaining the existing legal position rather than creating a new statutory right or relaxing existing legal requirements.

The clarification comes as hospitals and diagnostic facilities increasingly rely on electronic medical records, digital diagnostic systems and telemedicine platforms, making remote access to and authentication of clinical documents an important part of healthcare delivery.

Published on October 14, 2026