NIDA says may be ‘forced’ to intensify agitation
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 30
Following the Nagaland government’s inaction against its demand for enhancement of age superannuation, the Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) said it may be forced to intensify its agitation.
NIDA had written to the state government for raising the superannuation age for medical doctors from the existing 60 years to 65 years for those in the clinical and 62 years in the administrative sector.
Despite numerous representations submitted on August 17, 2016, October 27, 2020, January 7 and 14, 2021, there has been no response from the government, the Association had stated.
Consequently, as a sign of protest, the NIDA called for a symbolic protest by wearing black arm bands for more than two months since January 25.
Interacting with a section of media personnel this afternoon at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), NIDA President, Dr E Phyantsuthung said, “With no concrete or tangible response from the government till today, we may have to shift gears and be forced to intensify our course of agitation from symbolic protest.”
He said until today, NIDA as a matured organisation with responsible officers, had restrained itself from escalating its agitation taking into account the imminent second wave of the Coronavirus and also the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive.
“As responsible doctors, we are aware that this is not time for confrontation and we do not want to hamper the vaccination drive,” said Dr Phyantsuthung also adding that the association did not want to hamper the resumption of normal life after a year with huge backlog of non-COVID procedures.
“It has been more than two months since the symbolic protest of wearing black arm bands, but there may come a time when we have to shift gears if our issue is not addressed,” he added.
While the Cabinet meeting is likely to be held in the first week of next month, he expressed hope that their issue will be taken up in the meeting.
“We have not demanded for it but this is a special package announced by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in May 2016,” he also maintained.
Covenor of Core Committee on Superannuation, Dr Thorhusie Katiry said “with no assurance, there’s a huge pressure.
We have been restraining to the maximum owing to the current scenario due to COVID-19 but that should not be taken as a sign of weakness.”
Co-Convenor of the Core Committee, Dr Ahu Sekhose informed that following the announcement of the special package by the Prime Minister in view of the shortage of doctors and enable retention of experienced doctors for longer periods, 27 states across the country have already implemented the superannuation of doctors.
It may be mentioned that in response to the Association’s memo, the State cabinet has decided to constitute a five-member committee to examine their proposal. Unfortunately, there has been no outcome out of any kind from the committee, wherein the government in its cabinet meeting held on January 14, 2020 has decided on further discussions.
In its recent memo to the Chief Minister dated March 19, 2021, the Association appealed for separation of superannuation issue of the medical doctors from the agenda of the Cabinet sub-committee and expedite in the next Cabinet meeting for immediate logical conclusion.
With shortfall of doctors currently in the State which will be aggravated with the coming of two medical colleges, NIDA reasoned that enhancement of age superannuation will retain senior doctors, and will be a strategy to address the skewed doctor population ratio in the state, which currently stands at 1:3000 as against WHO’s guidelines of 1:1000.
The Association further stated that owing to the long duration of MBBS course, doctors enter into the State service around the age of 26-27 years and are unable to complete the 35 years length of service due to superannuation of age.
While many experienced doctors have retired and are retiring, it viewed that non-implementation of superannuation of age will further aggravate the crisis of doctor shortage in the State.
