Morung Express News
Kohima | June 23
The State Cabinet on Tuesday approved the creation of 186 posts under the Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), for which, appointments will be made through open advertisement for all.
This was informed by the H&FW Minister, S Pangnyu Phom during an interaction with media personnel at this office chamber on June 23.
The approval for more post creation comes at a time when the H&FW is combating the COVID-19 pandemic with paucity in the prescribed strength of doctors and nurses.
Giving a break-up of the post creation, Principal Director, H&FW, Dr Vizolie Suokhrie said a total of 15 post for specialists; 44 Medical Officers; 11 Ayush Medical Officers; 3 Dental Surgeons; 6 Research Scientists; 78 Staff Nurses; 6 Lab Technicians; 10 ECG technicians and 13 OT Technicians, have been approved by the government.
Expressing his gratitude to the state government’s ‘kindness’ Dr Suokhrie said that “the government understood the issue” and also informed that the department has been allowed to go forward with certain modalities in the mode of appointment.
He said the created posts would be filled through open advertisement as the department is going for a ‘fast-track’ appointment to mitigate the shortage of medical personnel.
NPSC yet to advertise requisitioned posts
Dr Suokhrie attributed the shortage of medical personnel to the non-advertisement of the requisitioned posts since 2018, compounded by the banning of contractual appointments.
“If we have to wait for NPSC, it will take a long time,” said Dr Suokhrie, which is why the department is going for ‘fast-track’ appointments.
On the mode of appointment, he further informed that open advertisements will be made and all eligible people can apply for the same, while adding that the department has ‘nothing to hide on this matter.’
When enquired, he maintained that the 27 newly appointed doctors were engaged on vacant posts as per the advertisement and they will continue as per the contingency of 1 year period.
‘Post creation will address NEAN issue’
Dr Vizolie, meanwhile, asserted that the post creation will address the issues brought up by the National Health Mission Employees’ Association, Nagaland (NEAN), as the doctors and nurses are eligible to apply for any post of their preferences.
“This post creation will be a competition and if they don’t apply, whom do we blame?” he asked, further adding “it might be for one year engagement which might extend depending on the regularisation issue which can be sorted with the NPSC later on or with the government.”
Reminding that NHM is a national flagship programme which cannot be compared with the state employees, he remarked that ‘raising issue out of no issue has put the department and the government into lots of hardships.’
NHM Mission Director, Dr Kevichusa Medikhru also affirmed that the post creation approved by the Cabinet today would address the issue of NHM as weightage will be given to those serving for 5-10 years. He was optimistic that a lot of NHM doctors and nurses will be absorbed through this.
On the parity of salary demanded by the NHM employees, Dr Medikhru opined that this is something which cannot be brought about through the funds received from the centre, which he claimed, had been explained to the NEAN officials.
To this end, he pointed out that 60% of the total resources received are being spent on salary, and if the department is to increase the salaries, it would be left with nothing to undertake any activity.
BSL-2 at CIHSR to be inaugurated on June 29
The Biosafety level-2 (BSL-2) at Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR) Dimapur will be inaugurated on June 29. Informing this during an interaction with media personnel at this office chamber on June 23, Health & Family Welfare Minister, S Pangnyu Phom, who went for a final inspection of the lab on June 22 stated, “The lab will be immediately made functional.”
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