Kohima: The Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) has voiced its concerns over the omission of medical officer positions in the recent advertisement issued by the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).
The body claimed that this omission, highlighted in Advertisement No. NPSC-1/04 (VOL-I) dt.28.03.2024 for the Combined Technical Services Examination 2024, comes amid a growing need for healthcare professionals in the state.
NMSA has expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of recruitment for medical officer positions, citing a critical shortage of doctors in the state – with only one doctor for every 4,056 people, significantly below the WHO-recommended ratio. Currently, over 183 sanctioned medical officer posts are occupied by state contract doctors and contractual COVID doctors appointees as per NMSA.
The association emphasised the plight of more than 250 medical graduates awaiting an opportunity to compete for medical officer positions through a transparent and merit-based process. NMSA said that the increasing number of medical graduates each year intensifies the competition, underlining the urgency for recruitment.
NMSA has raised concerns about the practice of hiring doctors on a contractual basis, which not only impacts current students and fresh graduates but also affects the contract doctors themselves due to age restrictions for NPSC exams. This stagnation in recruitment is anticipated to have a detrimental effect on public health services in the state.
Furthermore, NMSA advocated for medical officer recruitment (MBBS) as the sole entry route into the state government’s Health and Family Welfare Department, opposing the creation of a specialist cadre for NPSC recruitment. The association suggested addressing the shortage of specialist doctors in district hospitals by reallocating specialists from primary health centers (PHCs) and community health centers (CHCs) to district hospitals, thereby optimising healthcare delivery.
NMSA also called for the inclusion of 22 seats occupied by in-service doctors who have joined the new state medical college, Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research (NIMSR), in the recruitment process for medical officers.
NMSA urged the government to initiate prompt recruitment measures for all sanctioned medical officer posts, ensuring a fair chance for all eligible graduates to contribute to the state’s healthcare services.
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The association appealed to conscientious citizens, civil society organisations, student bodies, and the government to prioritise transparent recruitment processes that uphold meritocracy and provide citizens with the healthcare they deserve.
The association hoped that their appeal will be met with immediate consideration and positive action by the government in reflection of its commitment to the health and well-being of the people of Nagaland.
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