Kohima, February 27 (MExN): The Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) today announced that all its members will go on mass casual leave from March 7-9 in protest against non-fulfilment of written assurance given by the State Government regarding the superannuation age of medical doctors.
The mass casual leave would be followed by total cease work and to the extent of mass resignations, stated NIDA in a press release issued by its president Dr E Phyantsuthung and general secretary Dr Mereninla Senlem.
The association stated that it was “constrained” to resort to such option as it has no option at its disposal except to “resort to more aggressive means” with only one and half months left for the fulfilment of the State Government’s assurance.
As per the association, the State Government through the office of the Chief Secretary, on April 17, 2021, had given written assurance that it was “actively considering the matter relating to the increase in the superannuation age of Medical Doctors and offered to resolve the matter within a period not exceeding one year.”
Now more than 10 months have elapsed and the deadline given for resolving the issue is fast approaching but nothing concrete has been conceptualised, it said.
On its part, NIDA said that it “scaled down its demand to 62 years superannuation age for all the medical doctors, keeping in abeyance the demand of 65 years for clinical doctors.”
“The verbal offer of 60 years for administrative doctors and 62 years for clinical doctors from the government has been rejected by the association for the simple reason that implementation on the ground will be impossible,” it asserted.
According to the NIDA, the main objective of increasing the age of superannuation of medical doctor was to address the acute shortage of experienced workforce.
In the context of Nagaland, NIDA informed that that the total sanctioned cadre of MBBS doctors is 511, Dental Surgeons is 37 and AYUSH Medical Officers is 27.
However, there is shortfall of 326 MBBS Doctors, 13 Dental Surgeon, 20 AYUSH Medical officers as well as various clinical positions in the existing health units as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), it pointed out.
Another 248 doctors will be required for the two upcoming Medical Colleges in Kohima and Mon, it added.
The association further highlighted that during the intervening period since the submission of the NIDA’s first memorandum in August 2016, at least 42 doctors have retired from service amidst acute shortage of doctors in the State.
Additionally, for the 5 newly created districts of Noklak, Tseminyu, Niuland, Chumukedima and Shamator, more doctors will be required for the district level medical establishments, it added.
The NIDA further informed that it is further demanding a full-fledged Principal Secretary or Commissioner & Secretary be posted exclusively for Health and Family Welfare department for the smooth functioning and timely resolution of issues including the superannuation issue.
