Does a doctor's licence number alone, without providing other data, fall under personal data protection rules?

ANSWER

Personal data, under Article 4(1) GDPR, are information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, identification number, location data, an online identifier or one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

If a natural person can be identified directly or indirectly on the basis of a professional licence number, that information will be regarded as personal data within the meaning of the provision cited and will be subject to the General Data Protection Regulation.