Gurgaon: A consolidated record to track the state’s healthcare workforce and strengthen checks against quackery is on the cards. Haryana govt’s proposed publicly accessible database — digital registry — will allow people to verify the credentials of registered healthcare professionals and help identify practitioners operating without valid registration.In a notification issued on Oct 30, the Haryana health department made registration mandatory under HPR (healthcare professional registry) for all eligible healthcare professionals working or registered in the state. The notification will come into effect one month after its publication in the official gazette. The implementation will not involve any financial obligation on it.Director of the Haryana chapter of National Health Mission (NHM) Virender Yadav told TOI, “Mandatory HPR registration is intended to facilitate the creation of a verified, comprehensive and standardised digital repository of healthcare professionals working and/or registered in Haryana, including doctors, dentists, AYUSH practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and other eligible allied healthcare professionals. Govt expects the registry to help verify professional credentials and assist in healthcare workforce planning, monitoring, deployment and policy formulation.”The mandate will be implemented through five professional bodies: Haryana State Medical Council, Haryana State Dental Council, Haryana Nurses and Nurse-Midwives Council, Council of Indian Medicine Haryana and Haryana State Pharmacy Council. The requirement will apply to fresh registrations and renewals undertaken by the respective professional councils. These councils will have to record and maintain HPR IDs in their official databases, conduct awareness activities among registered professionals who have not enrolled and make digital registration an integral part of fresh registration and renewal. They will also submit periodic compliance information to the state authorities.A verified database could also make it easier for patients to check the registration status of practitioners before seeking treatment. The mandate covers doctors, dentists, AYUSH practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and eligible allied healthcare professionals, including auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), general nursing and midwifery (GNM) professionals and those with BSc nursing and MSc nursing qualifications.Professionals who do not have an HPR ID when applying for fresh registration or renewal will get a maximum of 90 days to obtain one by submitting the required valid documents through the HPR portal. Their registration will be treated as provisional during this period, allowing them to continue practising, subject to fulfilment of other applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.However, those who fail to obtain the digital identity within 90 days will face suspension of their provisional registration without any further notice, subject to applicable statutory provisions. They will not be permitted to practise until the concerned council reinstates their registration after completion of HPR registration.The notification also specifies the procedure for reinstatement. Professionals whose provisional registration has been suspended will have to apply for re-registration along with a request to obtain a valid HPR ID. The application must be submitted within 10 days of obtaining the ID and will require verification and approval by the registrar or competent authority of the respective council. They can resume practice only after their registration is reinstated.To ensure compliance, the councils will send at least three reminders through registered email addresses and SMS. The first will be issued within 30 days of provisional registration, the second between 30 and 60 days, and the third and final reminder between 60 and 75 days. Councils may also follow up through telephone calls and other communication channels.The HPR is part of Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which aims to develop an integrated digital healthcare ecosystem. It provides eligible healthcare professionals with a unique verified digital identity to facilitate authentication of their credentials and integration with digital health services. The office of the state ABDM will periodically review compliance and coordinate with the respective councils. The stated objective is to achieve 100% HPR registration of all eligible healthcare professionals working or registered in the state. Professionals whose registration or renewal is due within 30 days of the issuance of the notification will receive a one-time transition and compliance window of 30 days to obtain their HPR ID.
