DIMAPUR, APRIL 4 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) along with the Nagaland AYUSH Doctors’ Association (NADA) have extended support to the Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association’s (NIDA) demand on superannuation age for all government medical doctors in Nagaland State.
The NIDA is demanding that the State Government increase the superannuation age of doctors from 60 to 62.
NPF President, Dr Shürozelie Liezietsu, in a press release questioned why the government has been unable to resolve the matter in time if they really actively considering the same. He said that “we find justification on the part of the association that the Nagaland Government should look into the matter in its right perspective.”
“On the one hand, Nagaland has shortage of medical doctors; MBBS seat is such a rare thing; no one knows how many more years we have to wait for our own Medical College. On the other hand, government applies the same yardstick to health services in matters of banning creation of posts or extension of service. The matter does not end there but many patients will suffer the consequences even to the extent of causing death,” he stated.
The NPF President appealed to the Government of Nagaland to take up the matter urgently so as not to allow patients to suffer the consequences. “If the government has some genuine difficulty to meet the demand, it is hoped that doctors will understand it if it is communicated in a proper manner,” he added.
A press release from NADA General Secretary, Dr Shasinlo Magh and Vice President, Dr Alvis A Chikhe said that following the public announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a notification was published in The Gazette of India (Extraordinary) on August 11, 2018. It said that the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension laid down the Fundamental Rules 1922, where rule 56 for clause (bb) states the age of superannuation in respect of doctors belonging to all the categories i.e. Allopathy, Dental and AYUSH shall be 62 years.
“Therefore, in line with the GOI directives the NADA members are joining hands with the NIDA members and will collectively move in the ongoing process in regard to the proposed agitation and demand of the superannuation age of the medical doctors in the State,” the NADA added.
Meanwhile, the Dimapur, Phek and Wokha units of the NIDA also voiced support to enhance the superannuation age to 62 from the existing 60 years.
