After doctors, medical students are next in line to get a unique identification number from the Medical Council of India (MCI). The number will be issued to them as soon as they take admission to a MBBS course.

“This is for the first time that the MCI will be issuing unique ID numbers to the students. The idea is to keep a track on the number of students taking admission as well as to ensure transparency,” said a senior official from the Union Health Ministry.

He said that this would also keep a check on the number of seats that have remained vacant once the admission process is completed. Further, the MCI will keep a track on the students even if he moves from one college to another as the ID number will be the permanent number irrespective of the colleges.

The MCI is already in the process of giving unique identification numbers to all doctors in the country to keep a tab on their numbers and to easily track them if they move from one State to another.

The issuance of IDs to doctors and students is part of the Digital Mission Mode Project (DMMP) being implemented by the MCI. DMMP project is implementation of new Medical Register (IMR) through Unique Permanent Registrations Number (UPRN) generation for each registered doctor in India.

Presently, there are 460 medical colleges in the country, in government and private sector, producing 63,985 doctors every year. 

On implementation of the DMMP, the existing registration numbers of the doctors will migrate to a standard system of UPRN. Doctors should also apply online for additional qualification like post-graduation, super specialities, etc, registration with IMR.

The doctors will have to use the system to make online applications for services like issue of certificates.