Non-Recruitment of Medical Officers: Nagaland Medical Students' Association Seeks Transparency in recruitment

Kohima: The Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) has expressed dissatisfaction regarding the exclusion of medical officer positions in the recent advertisement released by the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).

The association pointed out that currently, over 183 sanctioned medical officer posts are filled by contractual doctors and doctors employed during COVID. 

Highlighted in Advertisement No. NPSC-1/04 (VOL-I) dt.28.03.2024 for the Combined Technical Services Examination 2024, this glaring omission has stirred apprehensions within the medical community, particularly amidst the pressing need for healthcare professionals in the state. 

Expressing profound discontent, NMSA underscored the critical shortage of doctors in Nagaland, with a staggering ratio of only one doctor for every 4,056 individuals and this is far below the WHO-recommended standard, reports East Mojo. The association shed light on the predicament of more than 250 medical graduates eagerly awaiting the opportunity to apply for medical officer positions through a transparent and merit-based selection process.

With the annual influx of medical graduates intensifying competition, NMSA emphasized the urgency of recruitment to address this mounting challenge.

NMSA voiced apprehensions about the prevalent practice of contracting doctors, which not only impacts current students and recent graduates but also poses challenges for contract doctors themselves, owing to age restrictions for NPSC exams. The stagnation in recruitment is poised to exert a detrimental impact on public health services across the state. Furthermore, NMSA advocated for medical officer recruitment (MBBS) as the exclusive entry route into the state government’s Health and Family Welfare Department, opposing the establishment of a specialist cadre for NPSC recruitment.

Proposing a strategic solution, the association suggested reallocating specialists from Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) to district hospitals to address the shortage of specialist doctors effectively, reports the Daily. 

Additionally, NMSA urged the inclusion of 22 seats occupied by in-service doctors at the newly established state medical college, Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research (NIMSR), in the recruitment process for medical officers. Appealing to the government for swift action, NMSA called for immediate recruitment measures to fill all sanctioned medical officer posts, ensuring equitable opportunities for all eligible graduates to contribute to the state’s healthcare infrastructure.

The association implored the government to prioritize transparent recruitment processes founded on meritocracy, thereby ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for all citizens of Nagaland. 

Also Read: MoS Health Counts 13 lakh Allopathic Doctors, 36.14 lakh Nursing Personnel in India, Check Details