Superannuation issue: NIDA to go on mass casual leave from March 7 to 9

Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) has announced mass casual leave from March 7 to 9, followed by total cease work.
NIDA president Dr E Phyantsuthung and general secretary Dr Mereninla Senlem also threatened that the members would even go to the extent of resigning en masse. NIDA disclosed that the state government had given them a written assurance on April 17, 2021 through the chief secretary stating that the government was “actively considering the matter relating to the increase in the superannuation age of medical doctors and offered to resolve the matter within a period not exceeding one year”.
However, NIDA noted after more than 10 months had passed as the deadline given for resolving the issue was fast approaching, but nothing concrete had been conceptualised. They said NIDA had scaled down its demand to 62 years superannuation age for all medical doctors, keeping in abeyance its demand of 65 years for clinical doctors.
NIDA also said that the verbal offer of 60 years of superannuation for administrative doctors and 62 years for clinical doctors by the government was rejected by NIDA for the simple reason that its implementation on the ground would be impossible.
They said the main objective of increasing the retirement age was to address the acute shortage of experienced manpower in the country where, against the total sanctioned strength of 511 MBBS doctors, 37 dental surgeons and 27 AYUSH medical officers, the shortfall was 326 MBBS doctors, 13 dental surgeons and 20 AYUSH medical officers in various clinical positions in existing health units as per IPHS.
Further, they mentioned that another 248 doctors would be required for the two upcoming medical colleges at Kohima and Mon. During the intervening period since the submission of NIDA’s first memorandum in August 2016, they said at least 42 doctors had retired from service amidst acute shortage of doctors in the State. Additionally, for the five new districts of Noklak, Tseminyu, Niuland, Chumukedima and Shamator, more doctors would be required for district level establishments at chief medical office and district hospitals.
With only one-and-a-half month left for the deadline, NIDA said they had no other option except to resort to more aggressive means as already circulated in previous press releases. They also demanded a full-fledged principal secretary/commissioner & secretary posted exclusively for Health & Family Welfare department for smooth functioning and timely resolution of issues, including superannuation.