NMC glossary · Money, offers and third parties
Referral Fee And Commission: What It Means Under The NMC Rules
Also searched as: Commission, Rebate, Referral fee, Cut practice
No RMP shall, directly or indirectly, offer, pay, solicit, receive or take part in any commission, rebate, bonus, gift, gratuity, referral fee, lead-generation fee or other consideration connected with the referral, recommendation or procurement of patients, specimens or materials.
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 | Referral fee and commission (also searched as Commission, Rebate, Referral fee) | Medmatis |
| In the notice | Not defined by the notice; this entry explains how the notice uses it. | NMC notice of 6 Oct 2026, cl. 8.1 (vii) |
| Applies to | Doctors (RMPs) | 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
Clause 8.1 (vii) is about money that follows patients. The consideration has to be connected with referral, recommendation or procurement of patients, specimens or materials for diagnosis, treatment, surgery or other medical services, and it applies in relation to the promotion or advertisement of medical services.
It reaches both ways: offering or paying, and soliciting or receiving. “Directly or indirectly” means passing the money through a third party does not escape it.
What it does not mean
- It does not ban normal advertising costs. The clause targets consideration connected with referral or procurement of patients, specimens or materials.
- It does not give worked examples. If an arrangement ties money to patients, specimens or referrals in any way, take medical-law advice before agreeing to it.
The notice’s own words
Quoted from the NMC notice of 6 October 2026. Check the clause number against the original.
cl. 8.1 (vii)No RMP shall, directly or indirectly, offer, pay, solicit, receive or participate in any commission, rebate, bonus, gift, gratuity, referral fee, lead-generation fee or other consideration in relation to the promotion or advertisement of medical services, where such consideration is connected with the referral, recommendation or procurement of patients, specimens or materials for diagnosis, treatment, surgery or other medical services.
Our plain-language guide to the whole notice → Check your own text against these rules →
Frequently asked questions
Can a lab or hospital pay a doctor for referrals?
No. The notice bars offering, paying, soliciting or receiving commission, rebate, bonus, gift, gratuity, referral fee or other consideration connected with referral or procurement of patients, specimens or materials (cl. 8.1 vii).
Does this affect how an agency is paid?
Yes. Clause 8.1 (viii) adds that the engagement of agencies, influencers or online platforms must not be structured so that payment is linked to procuring or referring individual patients.
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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