Nurses allege favouritism in regularisation of posts

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THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Nurses working on contract basis for the government on Monday alleged that permanent posts in the nursing sector are being given based on favouritism and influence with top brass in the government, rather than on merit and years of service rendered.
One nurse who spoke to 'The Goan' on the condition of anonymity said that this saga has been going on for some years, with there being no proper selection criteria followed for giving nurses permanent posts.
The nurse said that after the selection process held for nurses last year, marks of the written test held for recruitment to GMC on September 30, 2018 were not displayed. Further, only half the candidates underwent the skill test which was held prior to the written test on April 11, 12, 13.
"Some of the selected candidates have passed out just six months back, while other nurses who have been working on contract for many years have been overlooked," said the nurse.
The reason the nurses are even more aggrieved is because 45 of the 154 vacant posts announced at the GMC and Directorate of Health Services (DHS) were filled by candidates from Sattari/Valpoi, some of whom to this date do not have the required documents.
"Is residential address the only key criteria to get selected?" questioned the nurse, disheartened. Further, 20 of the selected candidates were from Ponda.
No list of selected candidates was displayed at either the GMC or DHS offices, claimed the nurse, questioning the transparency of the selection process, while alleging that some of the selected nurses started working at the GMC without any work order being given to them.
When the nurse in question enquired with the office at GMC, she was allegedly told that Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had said that a letter from the respective MLA was required to see the list of selected candidates.