Kohima, April 20 (MExN): Expressing solidarity with the genuine demand on superannuation issue by government doctors in the State, the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) on Tuesday submitted a representation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, urging him to ensure that policies on good health care are respected.
Stating that the latest crisis between the State Government and the Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association (NIDA) is unwarranted, the NMA also expressed hope that the matter would be resolved at the earliest.
In the representation, a copy of which was also sent to the Governor, the NMA maintained that it has moved for better health care for decades and that the state is witnessing acute shortage of specialist doctors, general doctors, nurses, lab technicians, medical equipment, medicines in many CHCs, PHCs, and District Hospitals. Reproductive health rights are ignored and facilities much needed, it added.
“The NMA is grateful for the stand taken by the Prime Minister himself, on retaining the services of doctors in India and raising the superannuation age of doctors across the country. Therefore, it is expected that the state government of Nagaland will ensure that the genuine demand of NIDA is accepted and immediate resumption of normalcy in health care services is maintained in public interest,” the representation stated.
The NMA said that Nagaland State is in dire need of good medical colleges, nursing institutes and better health facilities, especially for rural areas, and towards this, it suggested that most posts of all categories of health care professionals- Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Lab technicians, must be created and advertised immediately by the state government to ensure balanced health care and citizens right to good healthcare.
The two Medical Colleges must be made operational at the earliest to facilitate our children studying here in the state, it stated. In addition, it said that the State Health Society must be made functional because it is an important body for people’s voice to be heard within the state government structure, adding: “The NMA has been a member of the State Health Society and interactions have been not held as desired.””
It further urged the doctors in the Government hospitals and services to be sincere and have moral ethics of giving their best to public health. Accountability must be strictly maintained so that we can proudly claim the best health services for all areas in the State, NMA President Abei-ü Meru and Joint Secretary Malsawmthangi Leyri stated in the representation.
