GOALPARA, April 30 � The three-day State-Level Convention of Assam Medical Service Association (AMSA) concluded recently at the 200- bed Goalpara civil hospital campus. Speaking at the open session, PP Verma, Addl Chief Secretary (Health & Family welfare) said though their demands are legitimate, the government is still looking into their charter of demands and expressed optimism that the final outcome will have a positive bearing on the fraternity. He mentioned that the government has already conceded 52 (Sundays) in addition to 12 days additional holidays while actively reconsidering their demands for increasing the number of holidays and at the same time he referred to the December 20, 1991 Cabinet decision on paying the doctors for working on holidays which was unfortunately rejected by the Finance department owing to certain technical difficulties.
He also acknowledged the health care sector has thrown lots of challenges and opportunities to all and due to lack of adequate manpower doctors have to work hard for providing better health care facilities to the people and in this aspect to meet the shortfall around 400 doctors will be appointed shortly.
Meanwhile, AB Md Eunus, Commissioner, Health & Family Welfare said that the long- standing demands raised by AMSA such as non-practicing allowance, rural incentives and time-bound promotion or assured career progress scale are being looked into minutely and assured that these will be taken care of by the government. Pointing out matters related to reorganisation of posts, he said steps are being initiated to appoint additional staff in those state dispensaries and mini PHCs which are looked after by a single medical and health officer.
Meanwhile Preetom Saikia, Deputy Commissioner and patron, AMSA reception committee, expressed his happiness that AMSA is holding a State-level convention for the first time in the district. The health sector has achieved so much in the last few years and all the onus goes to the fraternity of service providers in this sector and though the doctors are overburdened and have to take additional responsibilities but they are doing a remarkable job in providing quality health services to the people especially in the far-flung areas, he added.
Dr Ashok Borkotoky, out going president while castigating the government for non- fulfillment of their grievances stressed that the need to accept all their demands as these are justified and legiminate as doctors are already practically overburdened providing 24 hours service for 7 days in a week especially in one-man PHCs where delivery cases are handled. He pointed out though AMSA has played a major role in strengthening and giving impetus to the health care sector, the government didn�t even bother to create the post of joint secretary from Assam Health Services (A) despite accepting it in a meeting in presence of the Health and Family Welfare minister way back in 2006.
Paying rich tributes to the founder president and the secretary, AMSA he highlighted the achievements and mentioned that the organisation which has been looking after its members interests has made rapid strides with the present strength of more than 3500 members in its 54 years of glorious history which started with just only 23 members in Dibrugarh.
The convention saw four brainstorming delegate sessions and one scientific session accompanied by a colourful cultural show. The welcome speech was given by Dr Bipin Rabha, superintendent, Goalpara Civil Hospital and chairman, reception committee, AMSA, Goalpara unit. The vote of thanks was offered by Dr MC Das.
Meanwhile, a new AMSA body was elected with Dr Chandar Dhar Deka as president, Dr Ranjan Kr Goswami and Hemanta Kumar Hazarika, as vice presidents, Dr Paban Swarnakar as general secretary, Dr Dilip Kr Dev Sharma (Hqtr) and Nabab Hussain (org.) asst general secretary, Dr Mridul Bharati Nath, office secretary, Dr Bhupen Saikia, treasurer and others.
Nearly 400 delegates attended the meet.
