The implementation faced a major setback after Dr Damodar Gajurel, chairman of NMC, resigned on January 24 and furthermore, due to the reservation on the renewal examination by some of the new office bearers of NMC.  Dr Gajurel’s resignation, however, was not approved by the Ministry of Health and Population.

Sources at NMC said following the election of the council in September, several newly elected members expressed qualms on the need to take repeated examinations as hardly any other field requires such periodic examinations. Some members raised concerns on important issues for the Council to handle other than the renewal licencing programme.

According to the new proposed provision, a doctor is required to renew his/her licence every four/five years. This ‘Continuous Professional Development’ (CPD) programme makes it mandatory for doctors to be trained and be updated in four areas—Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, communication skill development, ethical practice and infection prevention as well as rational use of drugs and therapeutic training.

Doctors will also have to attend seminars and training programmes in their specialised fields where 30 points will be granted for mandatory training and skills, with the remaining 70 to be allotted to their specialised field training.

Dr Gajurel added that he has called a meeting for April 1 to discuss the implementation of the programme. He, however, did not comment on the reservations put forth by the council members.