Our Reporter
Dimapur, June 17 (EMN): The National Health Mission Employees' Association Nagaland (Nean) has temporarily suspended its agitation for 15 days after the minister of Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom, assured to look into the issue at a meeting with the Nean executive members, in Kohima, on June 16.
The president of Nean, Dr. Shasinlo Magh, told Eastern Mirror that the minister had appealed to Nean for some time, in order to work out the modalities.
"He requested us for some time so that he can work with the department to come up with a concrete decision in order to meet the demands of Nean, so we have temporarily suspended the agitation for 15 days," said Magh.
He informed that the association has also given the minister a comprehensive chart of their demands in order to have a clearer view.
"We could have continued the agitation but it is affecting the healthcare system a lot; because of the service and concern for the people we will resume work temporarily," shared Magh.
The doctor further informed that the director of NHM was apprised of the development and has requested him to give necessary inputs to the Health minister so that the matter may be taken up with the government as soon as possible.
"The minister has assured to do the needful and come up with a solution at the earliest," Magh informed, adding that a representation was also sent to the chief minister on Wednesday.
More than 1000 employees of National Health Mission (NHM) in Nagaland began indefinite ‘cease work’ strike across the state, starting June 14 after the Nagaland Cabinet decided to regularise the newly-recruited 27 medical officers. Nean had cried discrimination, alleging that the state government had not heard its plight.
Nida appeals to review direct regularisation
The Nagaland In-Service Doctors' Association (Nida) has appealed to the government of Nagaland to immediately review the direct regularisation of medical officers to quell the deep resentment amongst the fraternity and resolve the present imbroglio at the earliest.
While expressing its profound gratitude to the PDA government for promptly considering its representation to address the huge shortfall of manpower in the department, the Nida said in a statement on Wednesday that “direct regularisation of newly appointed medical officers happens to be in contravention to our Nagaland Health Service Rules (Amendment 2017)”.