AMHSDA decries Govt's indifference
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 27 2023: Even though it has been 15 days since the All Manipur Health Services Doctors' Association launched indefinite shutdown of all health centres, their demands have not been heard yet, said the agitating doctors today.

The AMHSDA had shut all health centres and hospitals across districts starting from February 14 .

On the other hand, the Health Director has instructed all CMOs, Medical Superintendents, Programme Officers, Medical Officers and other head of offices under the Health Directorate to ensure that OPD, laboratory, emergency and other healthcare services remain fully open from tomorrow (February 28) onwards.

A notification issued by the Health Director said that closure of health facilities and denial of healthcare services would be viewed very seriously.

It also asked all concerned to submit compliance reports by 9 am and 3 pm tomorrow.

The AMHSDA had said that the decision to lock and close health centres was taken up after repeated appeals made to the Govt to address their grievances went unheard.

Notably, their demands include time bound promotion; extension of superannuation age of specialists and non-specialist doctors to 65 years; inclusion of NPA in the basic pay with effect from January 1 of 2016 as per the 7th Central Pay Commission; and amendment of the 'outdated' MHS Rules 1982 .

At Manipur Press Club today, AMHSDA general secretary Dr Lolee P Mao said it is unfortunate that the Government has chosen to ignore their demands.

Also, MLAs and Ministers have not yet discussed the issues pertaining to the doctors' remand in the Assembly, he said.

Earlier, the doctors had raised 14 demands to the Government.

However, after discussion with the Government, the AMHSDA had reduced the number of demands to just 4 .

But still the Government, despite repeated assurances, has not yet addressed the grievances of the doctors, he added.

The impact of the strike is extreme in the hills.

With all Government run health centres and hospitals closed and as there are very few private clinics in the hills, mostly the people in the hills are suffering because of the strike, he said.

On the demands, Dr Lolee P Mao said that extension of superannuation age of specialists and non-specialist doctors to 65 years would benefit the State as it would help solve shortage of doctors to some extent.

The Manipur Health Services doctors and JNIMS doctors are under the same Government and as such there should be one rule for all, said Dr Lolee P Mao.

Even though the doctors want to perform their duties and bring an end to the strike, the Government's attitude has made it impossible.

In the present crisis, the Government has shown no care whatsoever towards the doctors and their grievances, said one of the agitating doctors.

The demands should be discussed in the Assembly and it should be met at the earliest in the interest of the people and the doctors, said the doctor.

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