The Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) has reiterated its position that increasing the superannuation age is not the solution for meeting the shortage of Doctors in the state.
“Rather, the Government should hasten up the establishment of functional medical college to meet the shortage of Doctors in the state and prevent stagnation of jobs in the department by means of regular NPSC Advertised, written and viva examination,” NMSA said in a press release.
While acknowledging the decision taken by the government in recruiting “168 contractual time bound medical officer post and 15 Junior Specialist on account of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the association reiterated the demand for “conduct of NPSC advertised, written and viva Examination for those 183 post created so that every Naga medical graduates will get fair and equal opportunity to qualify by merit which in addition, will also help in uniform distribution of Doctors and prevent concentration of Medical Doctors in Urban Areas.”
NMSA also cited that, as opposed to WHO recommended Doctor to Population ratio of 1:1000, Nagaland has a ratio of 1:4000, which is 1 Doctor for every 4000 people. “This figure clearly indicates the shortage of Doctors in the state. This shortage can be addressed by increasing the number of medical graduates through the establishment of full functional medical colleges for which the state is yet to have one,” NMSA claimed.
Also read: Superannuation Issue: Govt cautions agitating in-service doctors
NIDA to go ahead with mass casual leave
Meanwhile, the Nagaland In-service Doctors Association (NIDA) has directed all its members to submit the signed casual leave from 18th to 20th April 2022 latest by 16th April “if not done yet.” NIDA has further said that failure to comply with the directive by any member “will be viewed very seriously.” Further, NIDA has appealed to all the CMOs and MSs of all the districts to collect the signed casual leave from all the medical officers under its establishment.
It may be noted that the state government has cautioned the agitating doctors.