Doctors across Manipur went on strike for 15 days to press the state government to address their four-point charter of demands, leaving services in many government-run health facilities paralyzed. However, the state has done nothing despite repeated assurance, said Dr Lolee P Mao.
Speaking to the media on Monday at the Manipur Press Club, All Manipur Health Services Doctor’s Association general secretary Dr Lolee P Mao said that doctors are misused in the name of essential service. As per the government request, eight characters of demand were cut down to four on November 14, 2022. However, nothing has been done till now despite repeated assurances, Dr Mao said.
With regards to the extension of superannuation age of doctors to 65 (sixty-five) years as administrative post, Dr Mao said that on May 26, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it is difficult to make doctors in two years but poor families cannot be forced to live without doctors. So, he wisely declared and raised the retirement age of doctors whether in states or government of India to 65 years. The declaration was made a reality on May 31, 2016, he added.
Normally, it takes five-six years for an MBBS student to graduate while it is time consuming and requires lots of money, Dr Mao said, adding that the state has to spend more than Rs 1.5 crore to sponsor one doctor for a PG course. There will be no administrative implication if it is extended as administrative post and never as trial basis, as stated in the previous Assembly Session (February 2, 2023), he added.
Because of the defective and out-dated MHS Rules 1982, the doctor’s strength is still 1300 to 1400, as the Manipur census in 1982 was about 15 lakh (1:1000). But, the population of Manipur is over 30 lakhs. So, it should be 3000 doctors by now, he said.
He said that medical colleges like Shija, Churachandpur, JNIMS Medical colleges, Cancer Hospital etc. are coming up and lots of vacancies will be there. All the District Hospitals, Sub-district Hospitals, CHCS, PHCs are crying due to shortage of sanctioned doctors. CM himself said that there is shortage of specialists and doctors in the state on January 18, 2023 during a public meeting. So, why should there be a problem to extend the superannuation age to 65 years instead of bringing it down to 62 years against the wishes of more than 1300 agitating doctors as administrative posts, Dr Mao questioned.
Dr Mao also said that illegally extending the tenure of a particular retired director thrice should be removed from the Manipur Health Services (MHS) Rules. It is also shameful and demeaning to appoint doctors with Rs 27500 pay which is less than peon, he said. False promises of regularisation will be against the existing MHS Rules 1982, unless amended again, he added.
JNIMS superannuation age of doctors was extended to 65 years and NPA granted with arrears as per the 7th Central Pay commission on January 1, 2016. Before the JNIMS doctors, MHS doctor’s superannuation age were extended to 65 years in 2017 and rescinded to 62 years in 2020 against the interest of the PM. Manipur Health Services doctors and JNIMS doctors are under the same Manipur government. How can there be two separate rules, he asked.
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