NIDA asks Nagaland government to solve acute shortage of doctors, nurses

Dimapur, June 3 (EMN): In the wake of healthcare systems across the world coming under strain due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) has asked the government of Nagaland to create adequate posts of doctors and nurses, citing acute shortage of medical professionals, which it said is adversely affecting the delivery of healthcare services in the state and “constantly attracting public criticisms.”

In a representation addressed to the chief minister, NIDA informed that 11 District Hospitals in the state are running with 51 specialists (at 23% of Indian Public Health Standards norms) as against the requirement of 207 specialists, 63 non-specialist doctors (at 52% of IPHS norms) as against the required 119, and 200 staff nurses (at 28% of IPHS norms) as against 645 needed for the healthcare facilities.

Mentioning that only 29 posts of doctors have been created in the state since 2006, the association said it has been submitting proposals to the government for creation of adequate posts from time to time but is yet to receive positive response.

“The department has submitted proposal for creation of 53 (fifty three) posts of Specialist Doctors and 143 (one hundred and forty three) posts of staff nurses for the 11 District Hospitals to increase the strength from the current level to 50% for specialist doctors and to 75% for staff nurses against IPHS requirement on 13.12.2018. However, the response is still awaited,” the representation read.

“Further, out of the 425 total sanctioned posts of doctors, 27 in-service doctors are on study leave and nine are on deputation. With no provision for replacements, these 36 posts in various health facilities are unmanned,” it added.

NIDA went on to state that are instances where candidates from the state who are selected for post doctoral (super specialty) studies after passing highly competitive exam — National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) — had to forgo the opportunity owing to the absence of leave provisions. It said “the department’s proposal for relaxation of leave rules to enable in-service doctors to undergo the super specialist/ post doctoral training (as the entitlement of study leave under the extant leave rule is already exhausted while undergoing Post Graduate studies) has been rejected by the government in the past.”

Stating that the doctors and nurses may not be in a position to meet the expectations of the people with huge shortage of manpower in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the association has demanded the state government to fulfil the following charter of demands:

– To create necessary post of doctors and staff nurses in the 11 District Hospitals to increase the strength from the current level of 23% to 50% for specialist doctors and 28% to 75% for staff nurses against IPHS requirement.

– To fill up the vacant posts against those on study leave and deputation as per the provisions of the Nagaland Health Services Rules (Amendment) 2017.

– To relax the relevant sections of leave rules, to pave way for aspiring in-service doctors to undergo post doctoral study.

“Health being a state subject, the government is therefore reminded of its responsibilities to take necessary remedial actions on the aforementioned issues without further delay, to avoid disruptions of essential health services and in the management of Covid-19 pandemic,” the representation read.