SHILLONG:
Former minister JA Lyngdoh has cited the rights of specialist doctors to get promoted against any vacancy as one of his achievements as a minister of state during the then BB Lyngdoh-led government in the state.
When he got elected in 1988, he was made a minister of state to assist Dr Donkupar Roy as then health minister of the state.
He said the chief minister of that time had requested him to ensure there will be no conflict between the general doctors and the specialist doctors.
The former three-time legislator of Nongspung constituency said he told Roy that he wanted to take up the issue related to the specialist doctors because the Meghalaya Medical Services Association (MMSA) under the leadership of former DHS (MI) Dr Aman War as its general secretary had opposed promotion of specialist doctors whenever there is a vacancy.
Both Lyngdoh and War are among the aspiring candidates from North Shillong constituency in the coming 2023 assembly polls.
While Lyngdoh is seeking to contest from Congress, which he recently rejoined after quitting the BJP, War will contest on a United Democratic Party ticket against the sitting legislator Adelbert Nongrum.
“I called them (MMSA) to my room and asked why they opposed promotion for the specialist doctors. What is the difference between the specialist doctor and the general doctor, please clarify, I asked Dr Aman War that time. He said it’s almost the same. I said no, it’s not almost the same, because for general doctors the course of study is four years and after four years how many more years that he has to study to become specialist doctor, they said two more years then I said why do you have to tell me that it is almost the same. I told straight away that specialist doctor means that they have to specialise for another two years. Due to that I said I have made up my mind and I am determined to ensure that few percentage has to be reserved for the specialist doctors that whenever there is a vacancy they should also be given a chance for promotion,” he said.
Lyngdoh said he immediately directed the commissioner to issue a notification in this regard.
When the MMSA had threatened to go on strike if the government went ahead to give promotion to the specialist doctors, the former minister said, “I replied that if you go on strike it is up to you, but if you listen to me don’t go on strike as this is also part of their rights as specialists because for many years they have also been requesting that they should also be considered for promotion. Then I told them that if they go on strike there is no other option except to direct the chief secretary to tell all the deputy commissioners to ensure that when there is a strike of the doctors because of this particular issue make sure that whenever a patient is brought to the nearest PHC/CHC or hospital doctors should not be absent from their duty. If they are absent and if anything happens to the patient then immediate suspension order should be issued pending inquiry.”
“Then later on they withdrew and percentage was given to the specialist doctors. That was my happiest day,” he recollected.
Earlier while rejoining the Congress, Lyngdoh had claimed that the people of North Shillong will not vote for any candidate from the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
He said the people want change and are fed up with the style and functioning of MDA government.