Dimapur, July 17 (MExN): On Sunday, various organisations extended support to the proposed agitation called by the Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) and appealed to the state government to take up the matter in a “true perspective and agree upon the proposal of the NIDA in the interest of the public and the state.”
NMDA: In a media release, the Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association (NMDA) pointed to the ‘acute shortage of Doctors’ in Nagaland and maintained that while doctor ratio with population according to the IPH in WHO is 1:1000, it is 1:1700 and in Nagaland is 1:4658, attesting to the scarcity the state.
It is high time for fulfill the vacancies by recruiting new dynamic young doctors as well as to increasing the age of the retiring doctors, it said.
The NDMA also noted that while retirement age of central Government doctors has been increased to 65 years across the country following PM Modi’s announcement, no such step was “taken or declared” by the State Government.
With the two upcoming medical colleges in Kohima and Mon district as well as creation of 3 new districts, a huge number of doctors would be required more in addition to current doctors per patient ratio deficiency, it added.
The NMDA, thus, appealed to the State Government to agree with the NIDA’s proposal.
DCOAN: The Drugs Control Officers Association Nagaland (DCOAN) also extended its “unconditional support” to NIDA and further expressed appreciation to the sacrificial services rendered by the Government Doctors during COVID-19 pandemic.
Accordingly, stating that due recognition from the state Government is well deserved, a press release from DCAON President, Ethungbemo Ezung and General Secretary, Imlilila Aochen appealed the Government of the day to revisit and review the current cabinet decision on superannuation age of in service doctors.
Grant favourable superannuation age that is agreeable to all, in the interest of public health, it added.
ASU: The Angami Students’ Union asserted its support to NIDA for “outwardly rejecting government’s decision for re-employment of retired Doctors for 2 years and thereby insisting the service extension (superannuation age) of medical Doctors from 60 to 62 years.”
The Union, in a press release, urged the Government to concede to what it termed as “the genuine demands” of NIDA in tune with the rest of the Indian States on enhancement of medical doctors’ superannuation age. It also questioned why the Government is “still adamant on requisitioning the required medical doctors’ post as well as failing to conduct timely examination, which thereby is depriving the educated unemployed medical doctors.”
Further, the ASU pointed out that acute shortage of medical Doctors in Government Health Institutions have been adversely affecting Nagaland health care system, while also expressing concern over the “ snail pace development of the two proposed medical college, both in infrastructural as well as outsourcing human resources.”
It urged the government of the day to expedite the progress on war footing to turn the medical colleges into reality as assured in the recently concluded state Assembly.
“The union in its ardent endeavor to mitigate the shortage of medical doctors and timely commencement of the state medical colleges, is resolute to launch not only its unwavering support but may also be constrained to come in forefront against the state government if the genuine demand of NIDA is not met at the earliest,” it added.
CNTC: Meanwhile, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council (CNTC) while extending support stated that the demand of NIDA to enhance the age of superannuation to 62 years is legitimate and genuine.
“While the Central Government has announced and implemented 65 years as superannuation of age, the demand for 62 years (3 years less than the central policy) is logical and practical. It must be noted that there is acute shortage of doctors in Government hospitals across the state and the demand of NIDA, if implemented will help mitigate the shortfall to a very large extend,” it said in a press release issued through the CNTC Media Cell on Sunday.
It also noted that the ratio of doctors per population in the state is very low compared to the neighbouring states and as a result, there are very less doctors in the remotely located health centres than its actual requirements. “As a result, health services in remote areas were greatly affected thus aggravating the sufferings of people living in remote areas,” it said, while appealing to the competent authority to accept the genuine demand of NIDA for the greater cause of the people of Nagaland.
