Complaint Against a Doctor — State Medical Council First, NMC on Appeal
Almost everyone starts in the wrong place. Professional misconduct complaints go to the State Medical Council where the doctor is registered; the NMC’s Ethics Board hears appeals from those decisions.
- Who to contact first
- The State Medical Council where the doctor is registered — not the NMC, and not in the first instance.
- How to reach them
- A written complaint with supporting documents to the Registrar of that State Medical Council. Most accept complaints by post and some now have online portals.
- How long to wait
- Set by the State Council’s own procedure. A consumer complaint has a separate two-year limitation from the cause of action.
- If they ignore you
- An appeal against a State Medical Council decision lies to the NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board. For compensation, the consumer commission — and the two routes do different things.
Official source · last verified 2 September 2026 — National Medical Commission — complaints. GetNyay is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any government department.
A medical council decides whether a doctor committed professional misconduct and can act against their registration — but it cannot pay you a rupee. A consumer commission decides whether there was deficiency in service and can award compensation — but it does not discipline the doctor. If you want both outcomes you pursue both routes, and they can run at the same time. Choosing only one because you assumed it does everything is the commonest and costliest mistake here.
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All contact channels
Every channel below was read on an official page. Contact details change — the source for each is linked in the verification footer at the end of this page.
The escalation ladder, level by level
Work through these in order. Every forum above asks what you did below, and skipping a rung is the commonest reason a complaint is sent back.
- 1Hospital medical superintendent / grievance cellWait Set by the hospital
The hospital’s own grievance mechanism, where a hospital is involved.
A written complaint and, critically, a written request for your complete medical records. Ask for the records first — everything downstream depends on them.
- 2Registrar, State Medical CouncilWait Set by the Council’s own procedure
The State Medical Council where the doctor is registered.
A written complaint with copies of all supporting documents — records, prescriptions, discharge summary, bills and reports. Say what was done, what should have been done, and by whom.
- 3Ethics and Medical Registration Board, NMCWait Set by the NMC framework
The NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board, on appeal.
The State Council’s decision and what it failed to consider. The EMRB hears appeals from State Council decisions and matters of national significance — it is not the place to start.
- 4District / State Consumer Commission — e-JagritiWait Two years from the cause of action
The consumer commission, for compensation, in parallel.
e-jagriti.gov.in
The bills establishing consideration paid, the records, and a credible expert opinion where negligence is alleged.
How the process runs
- 1Get your medical records first
Request them in writing. The ethics regulations require records to be issued within 72 hours of a request. Without them neither route goes anywhere.
then: then decide what you want - 2Decide: discipline, compensation, or both
Council for misconduct and the doctor’s registration; consumer commission for money. They are not alternatives — you may run both.
then: for misconduct - 3Complain to the State Medical Council
In writing to the Registrar of the council where the doctor is registered, with copies of all documents. Not to the NMC.
then: if dissatisfied with the decision - 4Appeal to the NMC Ethics Board
The Ethics and Medical Registration Board hears appeals from State Council decisions.
then: and separately, for compensation - 5Consumer commission
With bills, records and a credible expert opinion where negligence is alleged. Two years from the cause of action.
What this system will not take up
Filing one of these wastes the whole period — it is closed on that ground alone.
- Compensation — a medical council cannot award it. That is the consumer commission.
- Anything pending before a court.
- A criminal allegation, which is a police matter.
- A complaint against a hospital as an institution rather than a registered practitioner, which is a consumer or state health authority matter.
What to have ready before you complain
Assemble these first. A complaint that opens with the identifying numbers gets routed; one that opens with how long this has been going on gets a template reply.
- Your complete medical records — request them in writing; the ethics regulations require them to be issued within 72 hours of a request.
- The discharge summary, prescriptions, investigation reports and imaging.
- All bills and payment receipts, which establish the consideration paid.
- The doctor’s full name and registration number, and the State Council they are registered with.
- A written chronology: what was done, when, and by whom.
- A credible expert medical opinion, where negligence rather than misconduct is alleged.
Timelines at a glance
How long to wait at each stage, and where that period comes from.
| Stage | Window | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Medical records on request | Within 72 hours of a request | Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 |
| State Medical Council complaint | Set by the Council’s own procedure | State Medical Council rules — check your own state |
| Appeal to the EMRB | Set by the NMC framework | NMC — Ethics and Medical Registration Board |
| Consumer complaint | Two years from the cause of action | Consumer Protection Act, 2019 |
Common complaints handled here
Who runs this, and who is above it
National Medical Commission — Ethics and Medical Registration Board
The structure is the thing most people get wrong. State Medical Councils handle first-level complaints about professional misconduct against doctors registered with them. The NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board hears appeals from those decisions and matters of national significance. Sending a first complaint straight to the NMC generally results in it being routed back, costing months.
https://www.nmc.org.in/complaints/ →If they ignore you — where to go next
What each forum costs and what it needs before it will take your case.
The State Medical Council’s decision. This is an appellate route, not a first port of call.
Bills, records and an expert opinion. The only forum that can award compensation — a medical council can act against the doctor’s registration but cannot pay you.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a complaint against a doctor in India?
With the State Medical Council where the doctor is registered, in most cases — not with the National Medical Commission. Submit a written complaint with copies of all supporting documents to the Registrar of that council. Most councils accept complaints by post and some now have online portals. Sending a first complaint straight to the NMC usually gets it routed back, costing months.
What does the NMC actually do with complaints?
The NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board handles appeals from State Medical Council decisions, and matters of national significance. It is an appellate body for this purpose rather than the place a patient starts. If you are aggrieved by what a State Council decided, that is when the EMRB becomes the right destination.
How do I get my medical records if the hospital refuses?
Request them in writing and keep a copy of the request. The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 require medical records to be issued within 72 hours of a request. A refusal is itself a matter you can put to the State Medical Council, and it is often the cleanest complaint to start with because the obligation is specific and the breach is easy to demonstrate.
Should I go to a medical council or consumer court?
It depends what you want, and you may do both. A medical council decides professional misconduct and can act against the doctor’s registration, but cannot award you money. A consumer commission decides deficiency in service and can award compensation, but does not discipline the doctor. Many people pursue only one because they assume it does everything.
Do I need an expert opinion for a medical negligence claim?
For a negligence allegation, practically yes. The standard of care and the need for a credible expert opinion before proceeding against a doctor were addressed by the Supreme Court in Jacob Mathew v. State of Punjab (2005). A claim that rests only on a bad outcome, without an opinion that the treatment fell below the accepted standard, is very difficult to sustain.
Is there a time limit for a complaint against a doctor?
The State Medical Council’s own procedure governs the misconduct complaint, and that varies by state, so check your own council. The consumer route has a firm limit: two years from the cause of action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Because the two clocks differ, do not let a long council process run down the consumer limitation without filing.
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Related escalation guides
Every contact detail on this page was read on an official page — primarily National Medical Commission — complaints. Government contact details change without notice. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will check it.
What we deliberately left blank (3)
- — State Medical Council addresses and procedures, which differ by state and are not published here as one list — find the council where the doctor is registered.
- — Time limits for filing a misconduct complaint, which are set by each State Council.
- — The NMC complaints page was not opened directly when this page was built; the structure is corroborated from NMC-domain material and reporting on the EMRB’s appellate role.