Kohima, January 25 (MExN): The Nagaland In-Service Doctors' Association (NIDA) today expressed its dismay that nothing tangible has been worked out so far regarding superannuation issue raised by the association.
In a memo submitted to the State Chief Secretary, the association pointed out since the submission of the first memorandum on the issue in August 2016, numerous others have been re-submitted to the State Government over the years.
After a series of the discussions and communications at various levels, the State Government, on April 17, 2021 gave a written assurance through the office of the Chief Secretary that "the Government is actively considering the matter relating to the increase in the superannuation” and “offered to resolve the matter within a period not exceeding one year,” it reminded.
However, the NIDA expressed disheartenment that the sub-committee formed was formed more than 6 long months after the assurance and has done little even after more than 3 months of its formation.
The one-year deadline of April 16 is less than 3 months away and gauging from the lack of urgency and seriousness from the State Government's side, NIDA is very skeptical of the government resolving the issue within the stipulated period, it noted.
In this connection, NIDA stated that while association has regularly reminded the State Government, verbally as well as in written, for timely resolution of the issue to avoid unnecessary confrontations, it expressed apprehension that such a scenario is “now becoming inevitable.”
Accordingly, the association appealed to State Government to address the “issue on a war footing with concrete results and to be implemented within the stipulated assured timeframe.”
If the Association observes further lack of urgency, it would be constrained to “resort to other measures of protest including total cease work throughout the state,” added memorandum appended NIDA President Dr E Phyantsuthung and General Secretary Dr Merenla Senlem.
Meanwhile, NIDA asserted that its core demand remains the same as stated in the memorandum submitted to the State Government on October 27, 2020 which demanded “62 years for administrative post and 65 years for clinical post, without taking into account the length of service.”
It further informed that during the last meeting between the NIDA and the sub-committee members on December 14, 2021, the Association has flatly “rejected the Governments verbal offer of 60 years for doctors in administrative (office) works and 62 years for doctors in clinical (hospital) works as superannuation age.”
The Association also highlighted several issues related to the heath sector with reference to the state.
While the total sanctioned cadre of MBBS doctors is 511, Dental Surgeons is 37 and AYUSH Medical (MO) Officer is 27 in Nagaland, the shortfall of MBBS Doctors is 326, Dental Surgeons is 13 and AYUSH MO is 20 for various Clinical Positions in the existing health units as per Indian Public Health Standards, it maintained.
The NIDA also foresaw requirement of another 248 doctors for the two upcoming Medical Colleges at Kohima and Mon.
It further pointed out that during the intervening period since the submission of the NIDA's demand; at least 42 Doctors have retired from service amidst acute shortage of doctors in the State.
The NIDA also cited the often-repeated Prime Minister's announcement that retainment of the services of experienced doctors for a longer period is required to address the address the issue of acute shortage of Medical doctors in the country.
