IGIMS-Patna would propose enhancing the retirement age of doctors from the existing 65 years to 67 years.

"The proposal would be taken up at the next meeting of the body of governors (the governing body of the IGIMS), scheduled to be held on Wednesday," said IGIMS director N.R. Biswas.

The proposal, if approved, would impact around 100 doctors working at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS). The Bihar government recently increased the retirement age of doctors at state-run medical colleges from 65 to 67 years.

IGIMS doesn't fall under the Bihar government's guidelines because it is an autonomous institution. Though the health minister is the chairman of the body of governors of the IGIMS, the governors unanimously decide any thing related to the hospital. A few doctors are opposing the hospital's move to increase the retirement age because they believe IGIMS should stick to the rules of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

According to them, as AIIMS-Delhi has not taken any such move, IGIMS too, should not decide anything now. An IGIMS source said: "In 1991, the health department had sent a circular to IGIMS in which it was stated that the hospital has to follow AIIMS-Delhi's guidelines. Since then, the IGIMS has been following AIIMS regulations only."

Sunil Kumar Singh, one of the governors of the IGIMS, said recently a few doctors met him pleading not to consider increasing the retirement age.

"The body of governors has to take the final call. However it is true that we follow AIIMS's rules," said Singh.

An orthopaedic, who was among the doctors unhappy with the proposal, said: "The IGIMS has been following AIIMS's rules so there is no point in following the rules framed by the state. If the IGIMS follows the Bihar government's guidelines, it might have to follow other rules too. At present, private practice is allowed in state-run medical colleges. In future, IGIMS might think about removing the ban on private practice on the lines of the state-run medical colleges. This would make IGIMS's situation pathetic."

A doctor at the neuro-medicine department said: "After a certain age, it becomes tough for doctors to perform. There are many at IGIMS, who are above 60 and they report at the hospital late and they take several sick leaves. There is a doctor in the medicine department, who is supposed to retire next year according to the present guidelines. He has shown interest in resigning many times but other doctors stopped him from doing so. The doctor has recently undergone a bypass surgery. When a Medical Council of India team had visited IGIMS in May and wished to meet the doctor, he had sent a message that he would be unable to meet them because he of breathing troubles. Doctors of IGIMS, who have crossed 60, have health issues. So, most of us don't want the retirement age to increase."