Cabinet gives clearance to 186 new posts in Health department

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 23 (EMN): Nagaland Cabinet on Tuesday approved 186 new posts under the department of Health and Family Welfare during its meeting held at the chief minister’s chamber, Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima.

This was informed to journalists after the meeting by the minister for Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom. Among others, the newly-approved posts include six research scientists and six laboratory technicians for the BSL-2 and BSL-3 labs.

Meanwhile, the principal director for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Vizolie Z. Suokhrie, said that the Cabinet has been “so kind to the department” and provided the break-up of the newly-created posts: specialists (15), medical officers (44), Ayush medical officers (11), dental surgeons (3), research scientists (6), laboratory technicians (6), staff nurses (78), ECG technicians (10) and operation theatre (OT) technicians (10).

Suokhrie said the department is going on fast-track appointment and the government has allowed them to follow certain modalities for the recruitment process.

Therefore, they will be held through open recruitment by the department where all eligible persons will be allowed to apply.

He maintained that the 27 doctors ‘engaged by the department earlier’ would continue on contingency basis, as advertised.

The doctor said that waiting for Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) to conduct the exam ‘takes a long time’, adding that since 2018, the department has requisitioned various posts to be advertised, which ‘the NPSC could not materialise till date’, leading to shortage of medical officers.

With regard to issue raised by Nean about the rules of the Medical Council of India (MCI) in appointment process, the official maintained that MCI rules do not have any role in recruitment process while stating, “health is a state subject and the government is the authority and they (government) have allowed the department to go for recruitment with open advertisement”.

The mission director of National Health Mission (NHM), Dr. Kevichusa Medikhrü, said that the creation of posts would ‘address the issue of NHM’, stating that many, doctors, nurses and technical person are serving under NHM.

He reminded that ‘weightage’ would be given to those who have been serving for five, 10 years or more.

On parity of salary, he said: “Sixty percent of the NHM funds go to salary, and therefore if salary is increased from the resource envelop, it won’t be able to take up other activities.”

Suokhrie maintained that when it comes to salary, NHM is under a flagship programme that cannot be in equity with state employees.

He said that they complained even for those 27 posts; however the post of 28 vacancies were advertised and they could only recruit 27 of them “and nobody came forward”.

“Raising issue out of no issue (sic) puts the department and the government in lots of hardship. Even now if they don’t apply, since it will be advertised very soon, no one can be blamed,” he added.

Soukhrie also informed that the 36 posts were for one year and things will be’ worked out later’.

He maintained that the department had 42 reserve posts for study leave and 21 deputation reserve posts. He also stated that recruitment of nurses for the newly-approved posts would be based “50% on seniority basis”.