TURA:
The National Health Mission has issued a long statement clarifying its position on the controversy surrounding the recent recruitment drive for Mid-Level Health Providers or MLHP from two nursing colleges in Shillong.
According to it, in line with the recruitment criteria outlined in the operational guidelines of Ayushman Bharat Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Health and Wellness Centres, a key addition to the  primary health team at the SHC-HWC, would be the Mid-Level Health Provider (MLHP). The candidate holding a BSc Nursing Integrated course (certificate course in Community health for 6 months) from a recognised institution is eligible for this work. In Meghalaya, there are about 460 Sub Centre- Health and Wellness Centres. Each of them requires an MLHP. But, out of which we only have about 376 in position.
There are about 84 vacancies at present. The vacancies had increased recently due to many MLHPs opting for other jobs outside of NHM in government, private and other institutions.
In order to fill the vacancy and to ensure non-disruption in the services to the public, the office issued letters to The College of Nursing at NEIGHRIHMS and Woodland Institute of Nursing which are the only two institutions providing such certificate in Meghalaya to know who have currently completed the Integrated Community Health courses which are required as per qualification. Subsequently, list of students provided from NEIGRIHMS and Woodland Institute of Nursing for job placement were contacted for submission of application followed by verification of documents and counselling by the committee members, the appointment order was issued to address the urgent need for filling up the vacancies.
This is similar to campus recruitments which is a known form of recruitment. The operationalisation of Health and Wellness Centre is a key criteria for funding for National Health Mission.
It may be noted that in previous years, GNM or BSc were called for application for a 6-month bridge programme (certificate) in Community Health for Nurses with a duration of 6 months through entrance exams and the course was implemented through IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University). The candidates who successfully completed the said course were posted at Sub-Centers to lead the primary health care team.
With the introduction of BSc Nursing Integrated course (certificate course in Community health for 6 months) in College/School of Nursing (NEIGRIHMS and Woodland) from 2021 onwards, the bridge course was discontinued and job placements were introduced from eligible candidates.
Considering that there are still a lot of vacant positions in the Garo Hills region, more candidates are welcome to join the team. There is still about 50 vacancies, predominantly in Garo Hills districts.