Building of Nursing College inaugurated : CM warns defiant doctors
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 17 2014: If specialist doctors and other doctors refuse to comply with the Government's plan to send them to district headquarters on rotational basis for a period of two months in order to make up for healthcare shortfalls in the hill districts, the Government has no option other than taking befitting action against the defiant doctors, stated Chief Minister O Ibobi.

Ibobi was speaking at the inaugural function of a newly constructed building of College of Nursing at Lamphelpat today.

The building was constructed at the cost of Rs 11 crore comprising of Rs 6.5 crore sanctioned by NEC and Rs 4.5 crore sanctioned by the Ministry of Health Services.

Ibobi stated that transfer and poster is one major problem as far as the State's health sector is concerned.

Although all the medical professionals declared their preparedness to work in any part of the State, they fret and explore all kinds of excuses when they are posted in the hill districts.

'College of Nursing' at Medical Directorate ,Lamphel inuagurated by CM Photo - DIPR

Informing that the State Government has formulated a plan to send specialist doctors and other doctors to hill district headquarters for a period of two months on rotational basis, Ibobi stated that this arrangement would not have any effect on the doctors' MGEL.

They may draw their salaries from their previous places of posting.

Making it clear that the Government would have no option other than taking befitting action if any doctors refuse to comply with the Government's plan, the Chief Minister sought cooperation from the entire medical fraternity.

Stating that the difficulties faced by the State due to shortage of specialist doctors would gradually be addressed to over the years, Ibobi stated that no medical professional can pursue Post Graduate course under the sponsorship of the Government if he/she had not worked at a particular place for five/six years.

But nowadays, doctors selected by MPSC and qualified for Post Graduate course can pursue the same course after taking leave without going to his/her place of posting.

In spite of the State's financial constraints, the Government is giving top priority to health sector.

Staff nurses posted in interior places of the hill districts have not joined their place of work and they have been bribing local people so as not to expose their wrongdoing.

As such, the Government is considering appointment of staff for health centres located in interior hill areas from among qualified local candidates through walk-in-interview.

Hailing the profession of nursing, Ibobi called upon all the people not to view or treat nursing as an inferior or a subordinate profession.

If one discharges one's duty diligently, one would be respected by everyone.

Efforts are on to fill up all vacant posts of nurse.

Meanwhile, the Government of India has given its approval for establishment of four nursing colleges in the hill districts and another two in the valley, Ibobi informed the gathering.

A semi-low floor bus would be given to the nursing colleges for taking nursing students to hospitals for their practical classes soon after the Sangai Festival is over.

The PHED Chief Engineer has also been instructed to look into the water woes of the college.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing claimed that the nursing college opened today under the Health Directorate is a big achievement of the Government.

Maximum efforts would be put in to construct a hostel for the nursing college, Phungzathang assured.

MLA L Nandakumar, Principal Secretary (Health) Dr J Suresh Babu and Health Director Okram Ibomcha were also present at the inaugural function.