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Ethics & compliance

What Are The Penalties For Violating The NMC Advertising Guidelines?

Tamojit Lodh Tamojit Lodh · 15 October 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer

The NMC's 2026 notice sets out a disciplinary sequence from warning and ethics training to censure, monetary penalty, suspension and possible removal from the register. The notice describes a State Medical Council process and appeal periods (cl. 10.1 to 10.3; 11). The outcome depends on the applicable process and findings.

  • The sequence escalates across repeat violations, with separate treatment for serious violations.
  • Serious violations named in the notice include misleading cure claims, patient inducement and digital mass solicitation.
  • State Medical Councils follow a show-cause process and issue reasoned orders (cl. 10.1 to 10.3).
  • A doctor may appeal within 60 days, and a second appeal may be made within a further 60 days (cl. 11).

The NMC's guidelines dated 6 October 2026 come with a defined enforcement sequence.

What the notice says

The notice describes the disciplinary sequence as follows (cl. 10.1):

  1. First violation: warning and mandatory ethics training.
  2. Second violation: censure and a monetary penalty.
  3. Third violation: suspension of registration for 3 to 6 months.
  4. Serious violation: suspension for 6 to 12 months for the serious categories described in the notice.
  5. Repeated violations: removal from the register for 1 to 3 years.

The serious categories named in the notice include misleading cure claims, inducement of patients and digital mass solicitation.

The State Medical Council acts after issuing a show-cause notice and issues a reasoned order under the described process (cl. 10.1 to 10.3).

A doctor may appeal to the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) within 60 days. The notice also describes a second appeal within 60 days of the first appellate order (cl. 11).

What it means in practice

Do not treat the sequence as an automatic prediction for every case. The notice describes a disciplinary process; the outcome depends on the alleged conduct, the applicable provisions and the findings reached through that process.

If you receive a notice or complaint, preserve the relevant communication and records. Identify the clause being relied on and seek qualified medical-law advice promptly. Do not assume that a public summary provides all the procedural details needed for your case.

The notice says hospitals are dealt with under the Clinical Establishments Act or applicable state law. The exact route depends on the relevant framework.

What is still allowed?

The notice describes a process for addressing alleged violations. It includes a show-cause stage and a reasoned order (cl. 10.1 to 10.3), and it identifies appeal routes under clause 11.

These procedural provisions should not be read as a guarantee of a particular result. Obtain advice on the facts and the process applicable to your situation.

Related reading: NMC advertising guidelines 2026 · NMC-compliant healthcare marketing agency in Kolkata

Source: NMC Public Notice No. R-13014/01/2024-Ethics, 6 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Last checked: 15 October 2026.

What to do this week
  1. Review the communication in question and identify the exact clause or conduct being challenged.
  2. Preserve relevant records, published content and correspondence without altering the evidence.
  3. Seek medical-law advice on the response deadline, process and any available appeal.
Related questions
Can a doctor lose registration over advertising?

The notice describes suspension of registration and removal from the register among the possible consequences in its disciplinary sequence. The outcome depends on the applicable process and findings (cl. 10.1 to 10.3).

What happens after a first violation?

The notice describes a warning and mandatory ethics training for a first violation (cl. 10.1). Check the facts of the case and take advice before relying on this summary.

How long does a doctor have to appeal?

The notice identifies a 60-day period to appeal to the EMRB and a further 60-day period for a second appeal from the first appellate order (cl. 11). Seek legal advice to calculate the deadline for your case.

Do hospitals face the same registration penalties as doctors?

The notice says hospitals are dealt with under the Clinical Establishments Act or applicable state law (cl. 10.1, 11.5). The process and consequences should not be assumed to be identical to those for a doctor.

Tamojit Lodh
Written byTamojit LodhCEO & Founder
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