NMC Compliance Audit for Doctors & Hospitals
What is an NMC compliance audit? It is a structured review of a doctor’s or hospital’s website, social media channels and Google profile against the National Medical Commission’s Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication (public notice dated 6 October 2026, effective immediately). HMS Consultants reviews your last 3 months of public content and gives you a red-amber-green report with a fix for every finding in 7 working days.
Is your website and social media safe for your medical registration?
Doctors and hospitals promote online every day: posts, reels, bios, Google profiles, patient stories, offers. On 6 October 2026 the NMC issued detailed guidelines on what registered medical practitioners (RMPs) and hospitals may and may not communicate publicly. Many everyday posts that were common practice yesterday may now invite a complaint.
The NMC Compliance Audit from HMS Consultants helps you find out where you stand, in plain language, before someone else points it out.
What do the NMC ethical advertising guidelines cover?
The guidelines apply to hospitals, medical institutions and registered medical practitioners across websites, social media, messaging apps, podcasts, influencer marketing, sponsored posts and AI-generated content. In summary, they address:
- Claims: unverifiable or exaggerated claims such as “best doctor”, “100% success”, “guaranteed cure” or “painless treatment”.
- Testimonials and reviews: requesting or sharing patient testimonials for promotion, and fake, paid or manipulated reviews and ratings.
- Before-and-after content: before-and-after photos, surgical results, success stories and success rates; case material only for scientific or educational use with anonymised consent.
- Patient privacy and consent: identifiers must be removed, and consent does not make a prohibited practice acceptable.
- Offers and referrals: discounts, limited-time offers, contests, coupons or free procedures that encourage unnecessary consultations, tests or treatment, and referral commissions.
- Influencers and third parties: using an agency or influencer does not shift responsibility.
- AI-generated content: a clear AI label is required, and AI may not be used to create patient images, testimonials or outcomes.
- Mandatory disclosures: name, qualifications, registration status and registration number on electronic posts.
- Rankings and platforms: paid ranking of doctors and manipulated followers, likes or search rankings.
This is an awareness summary, not a substitute for the notice itself. Read the original on the NMC website.
What does the NMC Compliance Audit include?
We review your public presence in two packages, each covering the last 3 months of posts.
| Area reviewed | Individual Doctor | Hospital / Multi-Doctor Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Website | Your clinic or personal website | Hospital website |
| Social media | YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn | Hospital YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn channels |
| Google Business Profile | Google Business Profile | |
| Content period | Last 3 months of posts | Last 3 months of posts |
| Investment | ₹25,000 | ₹50,000 |
The checks we run
- Claims, superlatives and outcome promises
- Testimonials, patient stories and how reviews are requested or displayed
- Before-and-after images, case content and celebrity patients
- Patient photos, videos, identifiers and consent practices
- Offers, pricing and promotional language
- Name, qualification and registration number disclosures
- Personal photographs and self-promotion
- Influencer, agency and third-party content
- AI-generated content and AI labelling
- Drug, device or product endorsements
- Website disclaimers, privacy policy and data practices (DPDP Act)
What will you receive?
- A Red / Amber / Green compliance report
- For every finding: what we found, where it appears, the guideline area it relates to, the risk level and a recommended fix
- Compliant rewrite samples for your bio or About text and sample posts
- A 30-minute walkthrough call with HMS Consultants
- Delivery within 7 working days
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| Red | Content that appears to conflict with the guidelines. Fix first. |
| Amber | Borderline or unclear content. Review, and take legal advice where needed. |
| Green | No concern identified. |
How does the audit work?
- Enquire: contact us and share your website, social media and Google profile links.
- Review: we assess the last 3 months of public content against the NMC guidelines.
- Report: you receive the red-amber-green report within 7 working days.
- Walkthrough: a 30-minute call to explain each finding and the fix.
HMS Consultants provides independent strategic guidance. The corrections can be carried out by your internal team, your marketing agency, your website developer or any vendor you choose.
How much does an NMC compliance audit cost?
Individual Doctor
₹25,000
Website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google profile. Last 3 months of posts. Report and 30-minute walkthrough in 7 working days.
Hospital / Multi-Doctor Centre
₹50,000
Hospital website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn channels and Google profile. Last 3 months of posts. Report and 30-minute walkthrough in 7 working days.
GST is not charged at present.
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Who should get an NMC compliance audit?
- Doctors across specialties, including dermatologists, dentists, IVF specialists, gynaecologists, diabetologists, orthopaedic surgeons, cardiologists, oncologists and eye specialists
- Clinics, polyclinics and day-care centres
- Small and mid-size hospitals and multi-specialty centres
- Diagnostic centres, IVF centres and wellness centres
- Healthcare startups and health-tech companies
Why choose HMS Consultants?
HMS Consultants is a healthcare marketing strategy consultancy led by Akhil Dave, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare marketing strategy and has trained more than 1,500 doctors on digital marketing and AI tools. Our approach is diagnosis before promotion, strategy before execution, patient trust before visibility. We advise; we do not run your ads or sell you content packages.
Related services: Hospital Marketing Audit · Medical Practice Growth · AI Discovery Optimisation for Healthcare · All services
Frequently asked questions about NMC compliance
What is an NMC compliance audit?
An NMC compliance audit is a structured review of a doctor’s or hospital’s website, social media channels and Google profile against the National Medical Commission’s Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication. HMS Consultants reviews your last 3 months of public content and delivers a red-amber-green report with a recommended fix for every finding.
What are the new NMC advertising guidelines?
The NMC issued its Guidelines on Ethical Advertising and Public Communication by Hospitals/Medical Institutions and Registered Medical Practitioners through a public notice dated 6 October 2026, effective immediately. They cover websites, social media, messaging apps, podcasts, influencer marketing, sponsored posts and AI-generated content, and build on the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
Can doctors post patient testimonials or before-and-after photos on social media?
Under the guidelines, registered medical practitioners may not request or share patient reviews or testimonials for promotion, and before-and-after photos, surgical results and personal success stories are prohibited. Case material is permitted only for scientific or educational purposes with anonymised patient consent. Patient consent does not make a prohibited practice acceptable.
Can a doctor or hospital use words like ‘best’ or ‘No.1’?
No. The guidelines prohibit unverifiable or exaggerated claims such as ‘best doctors’, ‘100% success’, ‘guaranteed cure’, ‘painless treatment’ and ‘miracle treatment’. Comparative or ranking claims are allowed only if they are objectively verifiable, with the methodology, date and awarding body disclosed where needed.
Do the guidelines apply to hospitals and clinics, or only to individual doctors?
They apply to both. Hospitals and medical institutions may publish factual, verifiable information such as departments, facilities, equipment, emergency services, accreditation and charges, but may not make superiority or outcome claims or promote individual doctors. Hospital violations are handled under the Clinical Establishments Act or the applicable State law.
What happens if a doctor violates the guidelines?
Penalties for registered practitioners are imposed by the State Medical Council and are graded: a warning and mandatory ethics training for a first violation, then censure and a monetary penalty, then suspension of registration for repeated or serious violations. A show-cause notice and a chance to respond come first, and appeals go to the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the NMC within 60 days.
Does AI-generated content need a label?
Yes. AI-generated or AI-assisted content that otherwise complies with the guidelines must carry a clear source label stating that it is AI-generated. AI may not be used to create or alter patient images, testimonials, voices or clinical outcomes, and AI-generated promotional campaigns for commercial interest are prohibited.
What do I need to display on my website and social media posts?
Electronic posts by a registered medical practitioner must disclose the practitioner’s name, qualifications, registration status and State or National Medical Register registration number. Posts by a clinical establishment must disclose the names of the practitioners involved, with their qualifications, registration status and registration numbers.
How much does the NMC Compliance Audit cost and how long does it take?
The audit costs ₹25,000 for an individual doctor and ₹50,000 for a hospital or multi-doctor centre. GST is not charged at present. The report is delivered within 7 working days of receiving your website, social media and Google profile details.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a marketing compliance review based on publicly available NMC guidelines. HMS Consultants is not a legal advisor. Where a finding needs legal interpretation, we mark it amber and recommend that you consult a qualified legal professional.