Senapati doctors protest Govt apathy
Source: Chronicle News Service
Senapati, November 10 2022:
Medical practitioners of Senapati district staged a sit-in-protest at the District Hospital, Senapati in support of the demands raised by the All Manipur Health Services Doctors' Association (AMHSDA) .
Addressing media persons, District Hospital specialist paediatrician Dr Kiran Angom stated that the sit-in-protest was staged in protest against the non-implementation of the 8-point demands put forth by the (AMHSDA) since August last year.
The doctor expressed surprise that some of the doctors had to retire with their grade unchanged which she called it very unfair.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had approved increase of the superannuation age to 65 years for all doctors in May 2016 .
Accordingly, the state government started to implement the same in 2017 August only to reverse the decision in 2020 while the retirement age of specialist and non specialist doctors of JNIMS, Imphal and many states in the country has been enhanced to 65 years, Dr Kiran pointed out.
On NPA fixation, the specialist stated that the norms have been implemented only at JNIMS while the NPA benefits of other doctors of the Manipur Health Services were removed in 2020, which she said, is a huge loss for them.
Dr Kiran continued that the Transfer and Posting Policy of Health Services 2017 has not been strictly followed, leading to many doctors having to pay bribes in order to get posted at the place of his/her choice.
She also pointed out that MHS doctors are eligible for top posts by virtue of their seniority.
AMHSDA's other demands include creation of director general post for Health Services, Family Welfare Services, Public Health and Medical Education, implementation of proposed MHS Rules 2020 and Amendments, and provision of allowances for postings in difficult area.
Similar protests were also reported at Sub-Divisional Hospital (Mao) and in Imphal East, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts.