Imphal: Doctors of Manipur Health Services on Saturday threatened indefinite closure of outpatient departments (OPDs) in government-run hospitals across the state with effect from January 9.
The doctors under the All Manipur Health Services Doctors’ Association (AMHSDA) have been launching various forms of protests while pressing the state government to address their demands since November last year.
AMHSDA general secretary Lolee P Mao, in a statement, today said that the association has decided to launch an indefinite shutdown of OPDs in government run hospitals, starting from January 9.
Also read | AMHSDA calls 2-day shutdown of OPDs effective from Dec 27
He alleged that the state government is yet to fulfill the demands the association has been demanding.
He said that initially, the AMHSDA had put forward an eight charter of demands to the government on August 20, 2022.
After a talk with the concerned officials of the Health and Family Welfare department on November 18 last, the state government agreed to address four demands.
The agreed points are time bound/scale promotion for the doctors, extension of superannuation age of specialist and non-specialist doctors to 65 years as administrative post as per the declaration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inclusion of NPA in the basic pay with effect from January 1 of 2016 as per the 7th Central Pay Commission and a major amendment of the outdated MHS Rules 1982.
Also read | Naga Hoho expresses dissatisfaction with GoI over Indo-Naga political settlement
Following the agreement coupled with assurance of tabling the demands to a cabinet meeting in December last and in view of the recently concluded Manipur Sangai Festival, the AMHSDA suspended the strike.
However, the demands were not considered in the cabinet meeting till date. No matter related to the demands of the AMHSDA was discussed in the last cabinet meeting held on January 2, the general secretary of the doctor’s body lamented.
NNN
Senapati | Javeinai Ana crowned Miss Thounii; Rakhoveio Liimai bags Wrestling Champion