PATNA, June 7 -- The Bihar health department has mandated at least three years of continuous regular service for government doctors seeking no-objection certificates (NOCs) for higher studies outside the state or in private medical colleges in its latest policy, officials said on Sunday.

Under the new guidelines, accessed by HT, doctors of the Bihar Health Service (general and specialist cadre) and dental services will become eligible for NOCs only after confirmation of service and completion of three years of uninterrupted service certified by the controlling officer.

The department also barred doctors from obtaining another NOC for studies outside Bihar or in private institutions in Bihar for five years after they return from higher s...