Skip to main content
DiwaliFree checklist

India

SEO and AI search for clinics and doctors in India

Patients search for a doctor by speciality, area and timing: "skin specialist in Jodhpur open Sunday", "child doctor near Indiranagar". Your website and Google profile have to answer those plainly, and since 6 October 2026 they also have to follow the National Medical Commission's new advertising guidelines.

The good news is that what the NMC allows is exactly what search engines and AI assistants need: factual details about the doctors, facilities, timings and fees.

By Praveen Kumar, founder of Vectura Digital · Reviewed 19 October 2026. Researched with AI tools, checked against the sources on this page. This is general guidance, not legal advice.

What patients ask before they visit

These are the questions to answer on your own pages, in plain words, near the top. They're common examples; your calls, messages and reviews will add your own.

  • "What are the doctor's OPD timings?"
  • "What is the consultation fee?"
  • "Do I need an appointment or can I walk in?"
  • "Which insurance or cashless schemes do you accept?"
  • "Is the clinic open on Sunday?"
  • "Which doctor here treats this problem?"

Write your answers with the free FAQ builder

What your website needs

  1. 1

    A doctors' directory with facts

    Each doctor's name, qualifications, speciality, registration number and timings. The NMC treats this as patient information, not promotion.

  2. 2

    Factual fees and timings

    Consultation fees and OPD hours stated plainly. The guidelines allow factual, transparent fee disclosure.

  3. 3

    Services and facilities, described plainly

    Departments, tests done in-house, emergency availability and accreditation, without "best" or "No. 1" claims.

  4. 4

    Location help

    Address with a landmark, a map, parking and how to reach you, matching your Google profile exactly.

  5. 5

    Health information with a named author

    If you publish articles, keep them educational, name the doctor who wrote or reviewed them, and label anything made with AI.

Before you publish

NMC guidelines to respect (from 6 October 2026)

  • Not allowed: "best", "No. 1", "100% success" or "painless" claims, guarantees of cure, before-and-after photos, and doctors' photos used for self-promotion.
  • Not allowed: discounts or offers that encourage unnecessary visits, fake reviews or ratings, paid rankings and manipulating search rankings.
  • AI-generated content must be labelled as AI-generated and must not mislead; AI-made promotional campaigns and synthetic testimonials are prohibited.
  • Using an agency or influencer doesn't shift responsibility. The rules apply to whatever is published for you.

Sources: Medical Dialogues: NMC guidelines on ethical advertising and public communication (6 Oct 2026). Rules change, so check the current version or ask your professional body.

Business details for your page code

Use MedicalClinic (or Dentist for dental clinics). Google needs a name and address; add phone and opening hours. Keep it factual, like the page. Replace everything in CAPITALS, keep every detail identical to what the page shows, then check it.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MedicalClinic",
  "name": "YOUR BUSINESS NAME",
  "url": "https://YOUR-SITE",
  "telephone": "+91 YOUR PHONE",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "streetAddress": "YOUR STREET",
    "addressLocality": "YOUR CITY",
    "addressRegion": "YOUR STATE",
    "postalCode": "YOUR PIN CODE",
    "addressCountry": "IN"
  },
  "openingHoursSpecification": [
    {
      "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification",
      "dayOfWeek": [
        "Monday",
        "Tuesday",
        "Wednesday",
        "Thursday",
        "Friday",
        "Saturday"
      ],
      "opens": "09:00",
      "closes": "19:00"
    }
  ],
  "sameAs": [
    "YOUR GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE LINK",
    "YOUR OTHER OFFICIAL PROFILE"
  ]
}
</script>

Common mistakes

  • Old pages that still say "best hospital in the city" or show before-and-after photos.
  • Timings only on a signboard photo.
  • Health articles with no doctor's name on them.

Questions

Can we still show patient reviews?

Genuine reviews on Google are fine. The NMC bans fake reviews and ratings, and patients' names or faces shouldn't be shown publicly without safeguards.

Can we use AI to write the website?

AI can help draft, but the NMC requires AI-generated content to be labelled and not misleading. Have a doctor check every medical statement.

Will following the NMC rules hurt our ranking?

No. Factual, specific, well-sourced pages are what Google and AI assistants favour anyway.

Check your own site

SEARCH ONE checks one page for SEO, AEO and GEO and writes out each fix. Start with your home page or your main service page. Your first 5 page audits are free.

Run a free auditGoogle profile checks for clinics

Background: SEO, AEO and GEO guides, and the glossary.

Other industries in India: jewellers, clothing stores, CA firms, coaching centres.