Government doctors in Bihar are preparing to legally challenge a proposed ban on private practice by allopathic doctors in the public sector. This decision was made during a joint meeting of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA) after the state health department expressed its intent to prohibit private practice. The ban is expected to affect over 10,000 doctors across various health services, including the Bihar Health Services and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology. The IMA has proposed an alternative model allowing doctors to choose between opting out of private practice for a non-practicing allowance (NPA) or continuing private practice under regulated conditions. Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh, chief patron of IMA Bihar, indicated that if the government ignores their suggestions, they will be compelled to take legal action. The IMA warns that enforcing this ban could lead to resignations among doctors, further straining public health facilities and ultimately harming patients reliant on government healthcare. The proposal has sparked a divide within the medical community, with some senior doctors supporting the ban as a means to enhance service delivery in public health.