Dimapur, July 17 (EMN): The Governor of Nagaland has prohibited the call for ‘indefinite cease work’ by Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) from July 18, stating that it will ‘seriously impact’ delivery of essential health services, thereby putting in grave jeopardy the life and well-being of the people of the state.
NIDA in a circular dated July 11 had announced that all its members would go an agitation from July 18 to the 20th in which the members would cease work, and provide only emergency services in all the government health units/facilities in the state, and thereafter from July 21 onwards, cease even the emergency services for an indefinite period.
A notification issued by the chief secretary J Alam on Sunday said that no doctor employed or deployed in any government health unit should go for agitation or cessation of work, and any such act would be considered illegal.
It further stated that the doctor employed/deployed in any Government health unit/facility who goes for cessation of work/strike, under section 4 of Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978 would on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.
Further, any doctor employed/deployed in any government health unit/facility against whom action is taken under section 4 of the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978, would also be liable to disciplinary action under the relevant service/conduct rules or contractual conditions, as applicable.
“Notwithstanding anything contained in the CrPC, 1973, any police officer may arrest without
warrant any doctor employed/deployed in any Government health unit/facility, who is
reasonably suspected of having committed the illegal act of ceasing work/going on strike under section 8 of the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978,” it added.
As the Nagaland In-Service Doctor’ Association(NIDA) plans to go ahead with its ‘cease work’ agitation from July 18 to the 20th, the Central Nagaland Tribes Council, Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association and Angami SDtudents’ Union have extended support to NIDA’s demand.
CNTC media cell in a press release termed the demand of NIDA to enhance the age of superannuation to 62 years as “legitimate and genuine.”
It stated that while the Central government has announced and implemented 65 years as superannuation of age, NIDA’s demand for 62 years (three years less than the central policy) is “logical and practical.”
“It must be noted that there is acute shortage of doctors in government hospitals across the state and the demand of NIDA, if implemented, will help mitigate the shortfall to a very large extent,” it stated.
CNTC also pointed out that the ratio of doctors per population in the state is ‘very low’ compared to neighbouring states and as a result, there is shortage of doctors in the remotely located health centres. As a result, health services in remote areas are greatly affected thus aggravating the sufferings of people living in remote areas, it stated.
Taking into account facts and circumstances, CNTC appealed to the competent authority to accept the genuine demand of NIDA for the greater cause of the people of Nagaland.
Extending solidarity to NIDA’s proposed agitation, NMDA in a press release said that it is high time for filling up the vacancies in the Healthl department by recruiting ‘new dynamic young doctors’ as well as to increase the age of the retiring doctors to continue their service to the public.
Referring to the data and analysis from WHO where doctor ratio with population according to the IPH in WHO is 1:1000, in India is 1:1700 and in Nagaland is 1:4658, NMDA said the data itself is a testimony of the “acute shortage” and “status” of doctors in the state.
NMDA also said that if the two upcoming medical colleges in Kohima and Mon districts become functional this year, then a huge number of doctors would be required to run the hospital and the present “acute shortage of doctors” is a reason for “panic. “
Further, the association reasoned that with the recent creation of three new districts in the state, opening of new district hospitals will generate vacancies for doctors. But with the present doctor-patient ratio in the state, it wondered how the vacant posts would be filled.
“So, the NMDA appeals to the state government to take up the matter in a true perspective and agree upon the proposal of the NIDA in the interest of the public and the state,” it added.
ASU further expressed concern over the slow pace development of the two proposed medical college, both in infrastructural as well as outsourcing human resources.It urged the government to expedite the progress on war footing to bring the medical colleges into reality as assured in the recently concluded state Assembly.