NMC mandates structured radiology reporting for all NABL-accredited centers by 2027

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a landmark directive that will fundamentally change how radiology reports are created and delivered across India.

Starting January 2027, all NABL-accredited diagnostic centers performing cross-sectional imaging (CT, MRI, PET-CT) will be required to use structured reporting templates that comply with international standards including BI-RADS, LI-RADS, PI-RADS, and TI-RADS scoring systems where applicable.

The directive specifically targets free-text reports that lack standardized measurements, scoring, and structured impressions — a long-standing quality concern in Indian radiology practice.

"Structured reporting reduces ambiguity, improves communication with referring physicians, and creates auditable quality metrics," said Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Chair of the NMC Radiology Standards Committee.

Industry experts estimate that compliance will require significant workflow changes for approximately 8,000 diagnostic centers across India, with the template standardization effort expected to benefit from digital platforms that already offer structured reporting tools.