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Which licences does your clinic need?
Tick what applies to your practice and get a personalised checklist of the registrations and licences you likely need, each linked to a deep guide. General guidance, not legal advice.
Tell us about your clinic
Your clinic likely needs
- Based on your answers
Clinical Establishment registration
Required to operate a clinical establishment — though whether it is the central CEA or your own state's law depends on the state.
Read the guide → - Based on your answers
Biomedical waste authorisation / CBWTF tie-up
Healthcare facilities must segregate and dispose of biomedical waste under the BMW Rules, usually via a common treatment facility.
Read the guide → - Almost always
Practitioner registration (State Medical Council)
Every treating doctor must hold a current registration with their State Medical Council.
Read the guide → - Almost always
Local trade / Shop & Establishment licence
Most municipalities require a trade or shop-and-establishment licence to run premises.
Read the guide → - Almost always
Fire safety NOC (where applicable)
Required by many states depending on the building, floor, and occupancy of the premises.
Read the guide →
How clinic licensing fits together
Opening and running a clinic in India is not one licence but a stack of them, and which ones apply depends on what you do and where you are. Almost every clinic needs to register as a clinical establishment, arrange biomedical-waste disposal, hold a local trade licence, and have its doctors registered with their medical council. From there it is additive: dispense medicines and you need a drug licence; run an ultrasound and you need PCPNDT; sell taxable goods and you need GST.
For the full picture, start with how to start a clinic in India and the full licence reference.
Frequently asked questions
- What licences does a clinic need in India?
- Most clinics need a clinical-establishment registration, biomedical-waste arrangements, a local trade or shop-and-establishment 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 and what the clinic does.
- Does every clinic need Clinical Establishment registration?
- Most do, but the law that applies depends on the state. Some states follow the central Clinical Establishments Act, while others (such as Maharashtra) run their own nursing-homes legislation and a few have not adopted any. Check what your state requires.
- Do I need a drug licence if I only give medicines to my own patients?
- A doctor administering or supplying medicines to their own patients in the course of treatment generally falls under a narrow exemption. The moment you run a pharmacy counter or stock drugs for sale, a retail drug licence is usually required. The boundary is specific, so confirm it for your setup.
- When does a clinic need PCPNDT registration?
- Any clinic with an ultrasound or other machine capable of prenatal sex determination must register under the PC&PNDT Act before using it, and meet record-keeping rules such as Form F. It applies to imaging and diagnostic clinics, not only to gynaecology practices.
- Is this checklist legal advice?
- No. It is general guidance to help you understand what typically applies, based on your answers. Requirements, forms, and authorities vary by state and municipality, so confirm your specific obligations with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before acting.
Licences sorted — now run the clinic.
Once you are open, Avinya Plus handles records, GST billing, and scheduling in one system built for Indian clinics. See it on a quick demo.