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Kohima, May 22 (EMN): Nagaland Government on Saturday announced ‘additional incentives’ for healthcare workers and to enhance the availability of healthcare workers for performing Covid-19 duties in the state.
In a letter addressed to the directorate of Health and Family Welfare, the chief secretary of Nagaland stated that the government recognised the services of healthcare professionals performing Covid-19 duties – both in government and private sectors -- and the need to strengthen the manpower in healthcare facilities.
It said that the state government had therefore decided to augment and meet the immediate needs for healthcare workers performing Covid-19 duties.
These would include the power to engage students on a temporary basis, delegated to the district task forces (DTF) for a period of up to three months, with an initial upper limit of 30 students for Kohima and Dimapur and 10 each in other districts subject to the districts ensuring that an equivalent additional existing staff is deputed for Covid duty in each of the district.
Stipend to be paid to various categories of students:
| On clinical Covid/Non Covid-19 duty/ Essential services | On non-clinical duty | |
| Intern (MBBS) | INR 25,000 per month | - |
| Intern (BDS/Ayush) | INR 20,000 per month | - |
| Intern (B.sc Nursing) | INR 13,500 per month | - |
| Intern (GNM/Technician) | INR 10,000 per month | - |
| Intern (ANM) | INR 8500 per month | - |
| Final year(MBBS/BDS/ Ayush) |
| - |
| INR 9,000 per month |
| Final year (B.sc nursing/GNM/Technician) | - | INR 8,000 per month |
| Final year (ANM) | - | INR 7,500 per month |
| Below final year upto 2nd year student | - | INR 6,000 per month |
It informed that the budgetary allocation for 2020-21 and as available in the civil deposit for the purpose of stipend would be initially used and would be sub-allocated to the chief medical officers of the respective district as per their requirement immediately.
It may be mentioned that the principal director of DoHFW had earlier issued a notification stating that final year and intern students of various medical professions could be engaged on temporary basis for clinical and non-clinical non-Covid duties.
It said that preference for study leave for undergoing further studies would be given to healthcare workers who have rendered at least 100 days on Covid-19 duty and have qualified the entrance examination. Amendments in the study leave rules for this purpose would be issued separately, it added.
It further informed that any healthcare worker engaged for at least 100 days for the management of Covid-19 patients would be entitled to remuneration above 25% of the entry-level salary of the respective grade of employees.
With regard to appointments, it said that the government would give preference in the form of up to 25% of the total marks for the respective recruitment examination, depending on the length of Covid duties rendered, to the healthcare workers who have worked on Covid-19 duties , in the government or private Covid facilities for at least 100 days, for appointment against regular government posts recruited through NPSC, NSSB or departmental recruitment board during the years 2021 and 2022.
Detailed instructions in this regard will be issued in consultation with the department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms separately, the letter stated.
The letter added that the cost of medical treatment for government employees is borne by the government. However, the cost of treatment for healthcare workers who contract the virus while on Covid-19 duty in private hospitals should also be reimbursed on the same pattern as for government employees.
It may be mentioned that the government of Nagaland had already announced an additional amount (ex-gratia) of INR 10 lakh for all health workers involved in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic at various hospitals including government, private and healthcare centres.
The amount is in addition to INR 50 lakh to be provided under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan package insurance scheme for health workers as per update from the state government spokespersons on Covid-19.
Meanwhile, the two spokespersons on Covid-19 —Minister Neiba Kronu and Advisor Mmhonlumo Kikon had informed that till date, community cadres of Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) have trained 1959 faith-based organisation/church leaders across 774 villages in the state on management of mild Covid-19 symptoms at home.
Random sampling and testing was carried out at Tuensang town, Tesophenyu under Tseminyu sub-division, Kohima district; Chozuba town and surrounding blocks under CHC, Chozuba in Phek district; Jalukie town in Peren district; Wakching block, Tizit block, and Mon town in Mon district.
Covid-19 vaccination for persons aged 45 years and above was carried out at Longkhim Community Health Centre (CHC) under Longkhim block in Tuensang district; CHC Chozuba, Phek district; Tamlu CHC, Yachem CHC, Yongnyah PHC and District Hospital in Longleng district; Aboi, Tizit and District Hospital, Mon. Contact tracing sessions were also carried out in Longkim town, Jalukie town, and Longleng town, it informed.