NMC glossary · Claims and promotion
Solicitation Of Patients: What It Means Under The NMC Rules
Also searched as: Soliciting patients, Self-promotion, Patient inducement
An RMP shall not solicit patients directly or indirectly, promote services through self-promotion, or take part in promotional campaigns that give an impression of commercialisation of medical practice. Hospitals’ communication must not contain patient solicitation or inducement.
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 | Solicitation of patients (also searched as Soliciting patients, Self-promotion, Patient inducement) | 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 (ii), cl. 2.1, cl. 8.3 (ii) |
| Applies to | Doctors (RMPs) and hospitals/medical institutions | 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
Preventing direct or indirect solicitation of patients is one of the notice’s stated aims (cl. 2.1). Clause 8.1 (ii) applies it to doctors, and also lists engaging a third party for marketing medical services, and permitting use of their name, image, voice, testimonial or endorsement for promoting services or products.
For hospitals, clause 8.3 (ii) bars solicitation and inducement, and adds that the form, medium or frequency of communication must not turn factual information into solicitation or promotional self-aggrandizement.
What it does not mean
- It does not bar patients from finding a doctor. Factual information such as name, location, contact details, departments and fees is allowed (cl. 8.3 i, 9.1), and formal announcements are allowed (cl. 8.2 ii).
- The notice does not define “solicit”, and clause 8.1 (ii) is worded broadly. Its reach into marketing arrangements is an interpretation question for a medical-law adviser.
The notice’s own words
Quoted from the NMC notice of 6 October 2026. Check the clause number against the original.
cl. 8.1 (ii)Shall not solicit patients directly or indirectly, promote his/her professional services through self-promotion, engage any third party for marketing medical services, permit the use of their name, image, voice, testimonial or endorsement for promotion of services or any products, participate in promotional campaigns giving an impression of commercialization of medical practice.
cl. 2.1These Guidelines are framed to regulate advertisements and digital communications relating to medical practice and healthcare services in an ethical, truthful, transparent and responsible manner. They aim to protect patients and the public from misleading or unsubstantiated claims, safeguard patient privacy and autonomy, and uphold the dignity and integrity of the medical profession. (Objectives a) to f) follow, including: prevent direct or indirect solicitation of patients and commercial promotion that may induce unnecessary investigations, treatments or medical procedures; regulate advertisements and promotional communications dis…
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.
Our plain-language guide to the whole notice → Check your own text against these rules →
Frequently asked questions
What is solicitation under the NMC notice?
The notice does not define it, but it bars soliciting patients directly or indirectly and promoting professional services through self-promotion (cl. 8.1 ii), and bars patient solicitation or inducement in a hospital’s communication (cl. 8.3 ii).
Can I tell people my clinic exists?
Factual information such as a clinic’s name, location, contact details, departments and fees is allowed (cl. 8.3 i, 9.1), as are formal announcements such as starting practice or changing address (cl. 8.2 ii).
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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