The state government’s two-year-old move to put in place a new system of registration of doctors has failed to take off.

The government’s order stated that under the new system, doctors would have to get registered with the Bihar Medical Registration Council once every five years but they are not opting for the system.

Even the council, the body that is supposed to implement the rule, is yet to decide about the course of action to be taken in this regard.

Two years ago, the Bihar Medical Registration Council proposed to the state government to frame rules on the renewal of doctors’ registration.

According to the proposal, the doctors needed to renew their registration once in every five years at a cost of Rs 500, which got a go-ahead from the state government. However, not a single renewal has been done till date.

On why action has not been taken to enforce the registration renewal rule, Narendra Prasad, the president of the Bihar Medical Registration Council, said he does not remember whether any initiative was taken or not.

On further prodding, he said: “Next month we would conduct a meeting to discuss how the rule could be enforced.”

The state chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA) are opposing the move.

Ajay Kumar, the general secretary of BHSA, said: “This is a breach of promise. Those who have a lifetime registration would have to go for a renewal. Second, neither the state medical council nor the state have the right to take decision regarding the registration of doctors. Why should we adhere to these rules?”

IMA president Rajiv Ranjan Prasad asked: “Why should doctors pay money again and again for renewals?”