NMC glossary · What is allowed
Factual Information: What It Means Under The NMC Rules
Also searched as: Permitted information, Objective and verifiable information, Doctor directory
Hospitals and clinical establishments may publish factual, objective and verifiable information: name, location, contact details, departments, facilities, equipment, services, emergency services, accreditation and charges. A doctor directory with registration details is treated as patient information.
Updated 7 November 2026. Reviewed by Tamojit Lodh, Founder of Medmatis. Built around the NMC's Public Notice No. R-13014/01/2024-Ethics of 6 October 2026. Not legal advice.
Key facts, with sources
Hide the 4 key facts and their sourcesShow the 4 key facts and their sources
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Term | Factual information (also searched as Permitted information, Objective and verifiable information, Doctor directory) | Medmatis |
| In the notice | Not defined by the notice; this entry explains how the notice uses it. | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026, cl. 8.3 (i), cl. 8.3 (ii), cl. 9.1, cl. 3.2, Explanation II |
| Applies to | Hospitals/medical institutions and clinical establishments (cl. 8.3, 9.1) | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
| In force | From 6 October 2026, with immediate effect. The NMC may issue clarifications and advisories (cl. 12). | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026 |
In plain words
This is the permitted lane for institutions. Clause 8.3 (i) lists what may be shared; clause 9.1 says Clinical Establishments may advertise only factual information limited to objective, verifiable particulars. A hospital website with a directory of doctors, giving names, recognised qualifications, specialties, registration details and availability, serves a patient-information function and is regarded as materially distinct from a paid or promotional advertisement.
The permission has limits. Communication must not contain solicitation, inducement, comparative superiority claims, guarantees of cure, unverifiable or exaggerated claims, or promotional portrayal of an individual RMP, and the form, medium or frequency must not turn factual information into solicitation (cl. 8.3 ii).
What it does not mean
- It does not turn any content into permitted content because it is described as “information”. Promotional presentation of facts can still be solicitation.
- It does not settle whether a small clinic falls under these clauses. That depends on whether it is a clinical establishment under the applicable Act; take advice.
Department list, equipment available, emergency number, accreditation status and fees.
The same list presented with comparisons, guarantees and a countdown to a seasonal offer.
Illustrative wording only. It shows the idea and is not a clearance of any page.
The notice’s own words
Quoted from the NMC notice of 6 October 2026. Check the clause number against the original.
cl. 8.3 (i)Hospitals/Medical Institutions may disseminate factual, objective and verifiable information concerning their name, location, contact details, departments, facilities, equipment, services, emergency services, accreditation status, charges and other institutional information permitted by applicable law.
cl. 8.3 (ii)Such communication shall not contain patient solicitation, inducement, comparative superiority claims, guarantees of cure or treatment outcome, unverifiable or exaggerated claims, or promotional portrayal of an individual RMP. The form, medium or frequency of communication shall not convert otherwise factual information into solicitation or promotional self-aggrandizement.
cl. 9.1Clinical Establishments may advertise only factual information, where it is limited to objective and verifiable particulars concerning the establishment, including the name of the establishment, contact details, departments functioning, diagnostic facilities, emergency services, accreditation status, other facilities offered and applicable fees. A hospital website containing a directory of its doctors, containing the names, recognised qualifications, specialties, registration details and availability of its doctors, that serves a patient-information function; shall be regarded materially distinct from a paid or promotional advertise…
cl. 3.2, Explanation IIInformation regarding availability or installation of equipment, technology, diagnostic facilities or services may be disseminated as factual information, provided that such communication does not contain claims of superiority, guaranteed accuracy, guaranteed outcomes, comparative claims or other misleading or unverifiable representations.
Our plain-language guide to the whole notice → Check your own text against these rules →
Frequently asked questions
What can a hospital or clinic website say?
Name, location, contact details, departments, facilities, equipment, services, emergency services, accreditation status and charges, if factual, objective and verifiable (cl. 8.3 i, 9.1). It must not contain solicitation, inducement, comparative superiority or cure guarantees (cl. 8.3 ii).
Is a doctor directory advertising?
A hospital website directory of its doctors, with names, recognised qualifications, specialties, registration details and availability, serves a patient-information function and is regarded as materially distinct from a paid or promotional advertisement (cl. 9.1).
This entry explains a public notice in plain language and quotes its clause numbers. It is not legal advice. Read the original NMC notice and take advice on your own situation.
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