Dimapur, November 16 (MExN): Contractual doctors who were appointed during COVID-19 pandemic in Nagaland on Wednesday issued a rejoinder addressing the concerns raised by the Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) Hq Imphal, Manipur with regard to a ‘special recruitment drive’ in the medical department. The contract doctors held that the ‘special recruitment drive’ for the cohort was assured during their appointment and fulfilling it would be the least the government could do.
The issue pertains to a notification issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare on November 2 regarding a ‘special recruitment drive’ for the forthcoming NPSC written and viva exams, wherein “special preferences and incentives for the officer/staff serving on contract/engagement basis under NHM, NSACS, NHAK and state who have served the health care system during the pandemic,” were stipulated. Among others, the NMSA had said that the criteria was ‘unjust’ and had urged the concerned authority to immediately review its decision and issue fresh order in accordance with NPSC rules.
In this connection, the contractual doctors through a press release issued by the group’s Convenor and Co-convenor, drew attention to two government orders. The first was a Central Government order which gave discretionary powers to the State Governments to consider giving preference to health professionals who have completed 100 days of COVID duty in regular Government appointments through the PSCs or other recruiting bodies. The other was a State Government order on July 5, 2020 which assured a ‘Special NPSC recruitment drive for all post coming under the purview of NPSC’ for health care workers for their services during the pandemic.
“While the NMSA’s stand for meritocracy is appreciated, it is stated for the record that even during the contractual recruitment for COVID duty, due procedure for merit was accorded through several stages of screening, and interview tests were conducted. It was not a case of random selection,” the release stated.
According to the release, many of the experienced doctors serving under NHM, NSACS, NHAK also applied and got recruited for COVID duty as they were also assured a special recruitment drive for regularization.
“We risked our own health every day, testing suspected cases of COVID and coming in contact with them every day, taking care of COVID patients in the COVID Hospitals knowing full well that we were risking our lives too…,” it elaborated.
Further, the release stated that if NMSA “believes that the COVID duty ‘incentive and recognition of service’ of Manipur State ought to be followed and applied to Nagaland by the same yardstick, then that would undermine the authority of the Nagaland State government.”
It also went on to clarify that the allegation of NMSA that medical graduates and students would not sit for NPSC exams in another 10-15 years, “is not only blatantly false but misleading.” There are senior doctors in regular service retiring every few months and certainly every year, whose vacancy will automatically be available for recruitment through NPSC again, it underscored, while pointing out that special considerations in the form of age relaxations were made for all disciplines and would not become a precedent.
It further maintained that “No amount of special recruitment drive will justify the sacrifices the doctors made by putting their life on the line when everybody dreaded the scourge of the pandemic. A special consideration through a special recruitment drive as promised by the Government is the very least the Government can do to recompense for the ordeal they were subjected to.”
Meanwhile, the release also maintained that the NMSA giving direction to the government authority to immediately review its decision and issue fresh order was not only condescending but also impertinent.
“…To berate the experienced doctors who have several years of experience through NHM, NSACS, NHAK etc, by stating that their recruitment through a special consideration promised to them during the time of COVID pandemic for their selfless service would dilute the health care system, and that the budding doctors would provide ‘the best health care services’ for citizens to enjoy, is not only preposterous, but self righteous,” it added.
