What a non-clinical doctor does
Non-clinical doctors hold a medical qualification, usually an MBBS and often a postgraduate degree (MD or DNB), but their work does not involve treating patients. They teach in medical colleges, carry out research, work in public health, run hospitals, or provide expert evidence in legal matters. The disciplines include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, forensic medicine and community medicine.
They appear in The Doctor Index because they are qualified practitioners who are on the same medical registers as clinical doctors. A listing here is a record of qualification and registration. It is not an invitation to book a consultation, and a non-clinical doctor is not the right person to diagnose or treat an illness.
Their work still matters to patients indirectly. The doctors who treat you were trained by them, the medicines you take were studied by them, and public health programmes, disease surveillance and hospital systems are often run by them.
- Non-clinical doctors do not provide emergency care. In an emergency, call 108 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Conditions non-clinical doctors treat
Anatomy
The structure of the human body; anatomists teach medical students and support surgical training.
Physiology
How the body's systems work; the foundation of understanding disease.
Biochemistry
The chemistry of the body; some biochemists also oversee clinical laboratory testing.
Pharmacology
How medicines work and their safety; pharmacologists teach, research, and work in drug safety monitoring.
Forensic medicine
Medicine applied to the law, including post-mortem examinations and medico-legal reports.
Community medicine
Public health, disease prevention, epidemiology and health programmes for populations.
Hospital administration and health policy
Running hospitals and health systems, quality and planning.
Tests and procedures you may come across
Medical education
Teaching and assessing medical and nursing students.
Research
Laboratory, clinical and population research, including drug trials and safety studies.
Public health work
Disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, vaccination and health programmes.
Medico-legal work
Post-mortem examinations, injury reports and expert opinion for courts and police, done by forensic medicine specialists.
Health administration
Managing hospitals, insurance medical review, and health policy.
Non-clinical doctor or another specialist?
The nearest neighbouring specialities, and when each is the right door.
Before your first visit
- Use a non-clinical doctor's listing to confirm their qualification and registration, or for academic, research or medico-legal contact.
- For treatment, a second opinion on symptoms, or a prescription, choose a clinical doctor in the relevant speciality instead.
- For a medico-legal matter such as an injury report or post-mortem, contact usually goes through the hospital, police or court rather than directly to the doctor.
Qualifications and registration to check
Registered with the National Medical Commission or a state medical council. The number can be searched on the NMC's Indian Medical Register. Every profile on The Doctor Index shows the registration number and says whether it has been checked against the register.
How to check a registrationQuestions about seeing a non-clinical doctor
Can I consult a non-clinical doctor for treatment?
No. Non-clinical doctors do not see patients for diagnosis or treatment. For any health problem, see a clinical doctor such as a general physician or the relevant specialist.
Why are non-clinical doctors listed in The Doctor Index?
They are qualified and registered medical practitioners who appear on the same registers the index is built from. The listing records their qualification and registration.
What does a forensic medicine specialist do?
They apply medical knowledge to legal questions, including post-mortem examinations, injury assessment and expert evidence in court.
What is community medicine?
The branch of medicine concerned with the health of populations: prevention, epidemiology, and planning and running public health programmes.
How can I check a non-clinical doctor's registration?
The registration number should appear on the NMC's Indian Medical Register or a state medical council register, in the same way as for a clinical doctor.
Also searched as: anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, forensic medicine, community medicine.
Written by The Doctor Index on 27 Sep 2026, and has not yet been reviewed by a clinician. General information, not advice about your own situation.