Topic guide
Starting and licensing a clinic in India
Opening a clinic in India is less about one big approval and more about a stack of registrations, and which ones apply depends on what you do and where you practise. This hub gathers our guides on starting and licensing a clinic so you can see the whole map before you spend on any single step.
Begin with the step-by-step pillar, then read the deep guide for each licence that applies to you. The licence checker turns a few questions into a personalised shortlist. Requirements vary by state and municipality, so treat these as guidance and confirm with your local authority.
Start here
Pillar guide
How to start a clinic in India: a step-by-step guide
A step-by-step guide to starting a clinic in India: the business setup, premises, the licenses you need, staff, equipment, and a realistic timeline.
Go deeper
Compliance
Licenses required to open a clinic in India
The licenses and registrations to open a clinic in India: Clinical Establishment Act, biomedical waste, drug, fire, GST and more, and who needs each.
· 3 min read
Compliance
Clinical Establishment Act registration explained
How clinical establishment registration works in India: which states use the CEA 2010, which run their own acts, the process, fees, penalties and renewal.
· 2 min read
Compliance
Do clinics need a drug license to dispense medicines?
When a clinic needs a retail drug license, the doctor's-own-dispensing exemption and its limits, and what Form 20 and Form 21 actually cover.
· 4 min read
Compliance
PCPNDT registration for clinics using ultrasound
Any clinic with an ultrasound or imaging machine must register under the PC&PNDT Act 1994. Who needs it, the process, Form F, validity and penalties.
· 4 min read
Compliance
Biomedical waste management rules for clinics
What India's Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 require of a clinic: SPCB authorization, the under-1-kg exemption, colour-coded bins, and CBWTF tie-up.
· 3 min read
Frequently asked questions
- What licences does a clinic need in India?
- Most clinics need a clinical-establishment registration, biomedical-waste arrangements, a local trade licence, and the treating doctor's medical-council registration. Dispensing medicines adds a drug licence, an ultrasound adds PCPNDT, and taxable supplies add GST. The exact set varies by state.
- Is Clinical Establishment registration the same everywhere?
- No. Some states follow the central Clinical Establishments Act, while others run their own legislation and a few have not adopted any. The clinical-establishment guide explains how to find what your state requires.
- Do I need a drug licence if I only treat my own patients?
- A doctor supplying medicines to their own patients in the course of treatment generally falls under a narrow exemption. Running a pharmacy counter or stocking drugs for sale usually needs a retail drug licence. The boundary is specific, so confirm it for your setup.
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