Says, demand to raise superannuation age under consideration
Following the threat by Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association’s (NIDA) threat of a “full scale” protest over non-fulfilment of its demand for increasing the superannuation age of doctors, the State government has assured that the matter was under active consideration at the cabinet level and called for withdrawing the ongoing symbolic protest.
In a statement, the government said the matter was considered by the cabinet in its meeting held on January 14 this year, wherein it was decided to discuss the matter with NSF by cabinet sub-committee in the first instance.
It added that the cabinet sub-committee has had discussions with NSF and other stakeholders since then.
The government also explained that COVID pandemic in 2020-21 had forced it to take stringent measures to check expenditures, including banning fresh appointments.
Claiming that detailed facts were placed before NIDA office bearers and the need to allow the consultative process to be completed for a robust decision was highlighted in the various meetings the chief minister, health & family welfare (H&FW) minister, chief secretary and H&FW principal secretary has had with them, the government regretted that the association did not take cognisance of the counsel given and the genuine appeal to withdraw the symbolic protest.
Knowing fully that the matter was under active consideration and would be taken up by the cabinet and other facts, the government said NIDA should have refrained from making such public statements.
The statement also urged the association to withdraw its protest as it did not in any way help in resolving the matter under consideration. The government claimed to have taken a number of steps towards improving the service condition of doctors, including creation of one post of director (dental) in 2019 and creation of 134 posts in 2020 in various categories – one director (ME&RS), five zonal leprosy officers (ZLOs), eight district vector borne officers (DVBOs), 68 specialists, 44 medical officers, three dental surgeons, and 11 AYUSH medical officers – besides encadrement of two posts of DVBO in 2020, restructuring eligibility criteria for promotion to enable senior officers to qualify for promotion by reducing the tenure requirements in the higher grade, approving setting up of two medical colleges and development of health infrastructure in the State.
The government asserted that it was committed to improve the health infrastructure and better service conditions for government medical professionals with the objective of improved public health delivery.
However, it has to examine the matter in all its dimensions through the consultative process, keeping in view the legal and administrative complexities on account of the specific conditions of the State, the statement added.