NIMA opposes MCIM’s high fees for registration renewal

NAGPUR: The National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) has strongly opposed the move of the Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine (MCIM) to charge a fees of Rs 2000 for registration renewal of all BAMS doctors. The association is also objecting the one month’s time that is being given for the digital registration.
NIMA wants the renewal period to be extended to 90 days as was the practice earlier.It is also condemning the late fees being levied by the MCIM for late registration beyond 30 days. The council has made it mandatory for every BAMS doctor to pay a late fee of Rs 1500 (total 3500) if there is a delay in the payment and an additional fine of Rs 100 per day with each late day. The registration is being done using a special app called TATPAR.
Dr Ravindra Bothra, the NIMA national president told TOI that though digitizing the registration process was a welcome step the fee associated for the renewal of the registration was extremely high. “This much amount per person is too high for maintaining and storing the information digitally. The registration otherwise till now was free. The council can charge a suitable fee but it can’t be this exorbitant,” he said.
Dr Nana Pojge, the vice president of NIMA Maharashtra said that the renewals are pending due to certain technical reasons since 2016. Renewal should be done every five years. The MCIM has restricted the renewal period from March 19 to April 18, 2019. The candidates are expected to submit all their documents on line. These documents will be the verified physically also at district places. Only then will the doctors will be issued the new certificate with digital information like bar code etc.
Dr Mohan Yende, the city NIMA organizer said that the council was claiming that this fee has been levied by the state government. But the reality was that the MCIM on its own suggested this fees to the government which merely okayed it. “There are 90,000 BAMS doctors in the state and practically it is not possible digitally also to register them within a month’s time with the large amount of documentation that goes with the procedure. Hence the process and fees is totally unjustified,” he said.