How to Verify a Doctor or Hospital in India: A Step-by-Step Guide for Medical Tourists

Quick answer: To verify a doctor in India, ask for their medical registration number and the name of the state medical council that issued it, then search the Indian Medical Register on the National Medical Commission (NMC) website and, if possible, the state council’s own register. Dentists are registered with state dental councils under the Dental Council of India, and Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy practitioners with their own councils. To verify a hospital, check NABH accreditation on the NABH directory, JCI accreditation on the Joint Commission International site and, for organ transplants, that the hospital is registered for transplants with the state authority and NOTTO. Never pay a stranger’s personal bank account, and confirm any visa invitation letter directly with the hospital’s international patient desk.

Most doctors and hospitals in India are genuine. The problem is usually in the middle: unregulated agents, fake letters and promises that sound too good to be true. This guide shows you, step by step, how to check each person and organisation in your treatment journey. It is part of our complete guide to medical tourism in India.

Why verification matters for medical tourists

When you plan treatment from another country, you often meet the doctor and hospital only by email or WhatsApp. That makes it easy for someone to pose as a hospital coordinator or to use a real doctor’s name without permission. Foreign governments have raised this too. In 2024, the Consulate General of Oman in Mumbai warned its citizens about fraud involving some hospitals, therapy centres and translators, and advised them to deal with hospitals directly and not send money to unknown people. Later in 2024, Capital Ethiopia reported that the Indian Embassy in Ethiopia had paused medical visas after a rise in applications with fake documents.

Checking takes an hour or two. It can save you money, time and, most importantly, your health. If you are still deciding whether to travel at all, read is India safe for medical treatment first.

Step 1: How to verify a doctor in India (modern medicine)

Every doctor practising modern (allopathic) medicine in India must be registered with a State Medical Council. The NMC brings these registrations together in the Indian Medical Register (IMR).

1. Ask the doctor or hospital for three details: the doctor’s full name as registered, their registration number, and the state medical council that registered them. A genuine doctor or hospital will share these without fuss.
2. Search the Indian Medical Register: go to the NMC Indian Medical Register page. You can search by name, registration number, year of registration or state medical council. There is also a separate search for blacklisted doctors.
3. Match every detail: the name, registration number, council, qualification and year should match what you were given. Small spelling differences in names are common, so use the registration number as your main check.
4. Check the state council if needed: the NMC page itself says its data is being updated, so a missing entry does not always mean a doctor is fake. If you cannot find someone, search the state medical council’s own website or ask the hospital to send a copy of the registration certificate, then confirm it with the council.
5. Check the specialist degree: the register shows medical qualifications. If a doctor is described as a surgeon or specialist, the register should list a postgraduate qualification such as MS, MD, DNB, MCh or DM.

A note on the new National Medical Register (NMR): the NMC is building a single national register that gives each doctor a unique ID. According to a report in ThePrint in October 2026, only about 1.66 lakh doctors had registered on it so far, and full public search depends on state registers being merged. Until it is complete, use the Indian Medical Register and state council registers described above.

Step 2: Dentists and Ayush practitioners

Dentists

Dentists in India are registered with their State Dental Council under the Dentists Act, 1948, with the Dental Council of India (DCI) at the national level. In 2024 the government launched a National Dental Register that gives verified dentists a unique ID, and said it would help citizens identify dentists verified by state dental councils. In practice, ask the dentist for their state dental council registration number, then check it with that state council (many have online registers) or the Dental Council of India website. Also check whether the clinic itself holds NABH dental accreditation.

Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy

If you are coming for Ayush treatment, the practitioner should be registered with a state board or council for Indian Systems of Medicine or Homoeopathy. Nationally, these systems are regulated by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH). Ask for the registration number and the state board name, and confirm with that board. For the centre itself, look for NABH Ayush hospital accreditation. If you need a visa for this, see our Ayush visa guide.

Step 3: How to verify a hospital

NABH accreditation

NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) is India’s national accreditation body and part of the Quality Council of India. Use the NABH “Find a Healthcare Organisation” directory to search by state, city and speciality. NABH notes that the directory includes organisations under renewal and that data migration to its new website is ongoing, so if a hospital you expect is missing, call NABH on +91-11-4260 0600 to confirm. Also check that the accreditation covers the exact hospital branch you will attend, not just another hospital in the same group.

JCI accreditation

Joint Commission International (JCI) is a US-based body that accredits hospitals worldwide. Its website has an accredited organisations search where you can filter by country. Check the exact hospital name and city. Hospital groups sometimes say “JCI accredited” when only some of their hospitals hold it. For the difference between the two badges, read JCI vs NABH accreditation.

Organ transplant registration (THOA)

Under section 14 of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOA), a hospital cannot carry out organ or tissue transplants unless it is registered for that purpose with the state’s Appropriate Authority. For a kidney, liver or bone marrow related transplant journey, ask the hospital for its transplant registration details, including which organs it is registered for and when the registration expires. NOTTO’s citizen charter says the public can get the list of authorised transplant centres through the NOTTO website or its helpline, 1800-11-4770. Some state transplant organisations also publish their own lists.

Foreign patients face extra rules. When the donor or recipient is a foreign national, an authorisation committee must approve the transplant first, and a senior official of the patient’s embassy must certify the donor relationship. Anyone offering an “easy” unrelated donor or a way around this committee is offering something illegal. See our kidney transplant in India guide for more.

Step 4: How to verify a hospital invitation letter for your visa

Indian missions usually ask for a letter from the treating hospital. For example, the Consulate General of India in Dubai asks for a letter on hospital letterhead with a stamp and signature, stating the treatment, its duration, and the patient’s and attendant’s names, passport numbers and nationality. Some missions ask for more. Under the Embassy of India in Addis Ababa’s guidelines for Somali nationals, hospital letters need a unique reference number, an itemised cost estimate and the hospital’s bank details.

To check a letter is real:

• Find the hospital’s contact details yourself from its official website, not from the letter or the agent.
• Email the international patient desk with the reference number and ask them to confirm they issued the letter.
• Check the details: your name and passport number must be exactly right, and the doctor named should appear on the hospital’s own website and in the medical register.
• Check where payment goes: deposits should go to a bank account in the hospital’s registered name. Confirm the account by phone with the hospital’s finance or international desk.
• Never use a letter for a hospital you are not going to. A false letter can lead to visa refusal and future problems with Indian authorities.

For the full visa process, read our India medical visa guide.

Step 5: How to verify a medical tourism facilitator or agent

There is no official government list of approved medical tourism facilitators that we could find. The closest thing is NABH’s voluntary Medical Value Travel Facilitator (MVTF) empanelment programme. According to IMTJ, by 2019 only 14 agents had been certified out of an estimated 500 or more, so most genuine facilitators do not hold it. The lack of a certificate is not proof of a scam, but a claimed certificate should be checked with NABH.

Practical checks for any facilitator or concierge:

• A registered business name and address in India, with a landline or office you can visit or video call.
• A clear written explanation of how they are paid. Many agents earn commission from hospitals; ask openly.
• They let you contact the hospital directly and copy you into emails with the hospital.
• Their fees are paid to a business account and they give you a proper invoice.
• They do not give medical advice or promise outcomes.

For more detail, see what a medical tourism facilitator does and how to choose a medical tourism concierge in India.

Red flags of fake doctors, hospitals and agents

Verification checklist: what to check, where, and what a good answer looks like

Be careful with “all-inclusive” offers too. Our guide to medical tourism packages in India explains what such packages usually cover and what to ask before you pay.

What to do if something does not add up

If a doctor is not on any register, a hospital denies issuing your letter, or someone asks for money in a way that feels wrong, stop paying and stop sharing documents. Contact the hospital directly using details from its official website. If you think a doctor is practising without registration, you can report it to the relevant state medical council. You can also tell your own country’s embassy or consulate in India, which may already know about the agent. Keep copies of all messages, receipts and letters.

How NEIMHAANS helps

NEIMHAANS is a non-clinical patient navigation service that has supported families travelling for treatment since 2007. We help you check registrations and accreditation, speak with hospitals’ international desks, confirm letters and payment accounts, and organise travel, stay and day-to-day support. We do not give medical advice or sell hospital packages, so our only job is to help you make a safe, informed choice. See our support services.

Sources

• National Medical Commission: Indian Medical Register search
• ThePrint (October 2026): progress of the National Medical Register
• India Med Today: launch of the National Dental Register
• NABH: Find a Healthcare Organisation directory
• NABH: Medical Value Travel Facilitator (MVTF) empanelment programme
• IMTJ: medical tourism agent regulation in India
• Joint Commission International: accredited organisations
• India Code: Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994
• NOTTO citizen charter
• The Hitavada: Health Ministry on transplant rules for foreign nationals
• Consulate General of India, Dubai: medical visa requirements
• Embassy of India, Addis Ababa: revised medical visa guidelines (October 2024)
• Capital Ethiopia (October 2024): Indian Embassy halts medical visas over fake documents
• Oman Observer: Oman consulate in Mumbai warns of medical treatment frauds

Frequently asked questions

This article is general information, not medical, legal, insurance or financial advice. Rules, schemes and hospital policies change, so always confirm details with your hospital, insurer or the relevant authority.