Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India Shri Dr Mansukh Mandaviya ji inaugurated the first Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research NIMSR, Kohima on 14th October 2023.
In a major boost to the healthcare system in the state, Nagaland's first medical college " Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research NIMSR" was formally inaugurated on Saturday by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India Shri Dr Mansukh Mandaviya ji at Kohima.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Dr Mansukh Mandaviya ji expressed happiness that Nagaland has got its first medical college, not only for a medical college but also a type of research institute, he said, and that having a medical college or research institute is not only to fulfil the medical education purpose but will serve as a research institute for the people of Nagaland in finding research and solution for rare diseases." It will address Nagaland health issues, and give medical education opportunities to the youth of Nagaland", he said terming it a multi-purpose facility. The Union Minister also stated that it is the dream of Prime Minister Modi to provide a good health sector and to make it accessible and affordable, he said that the Government of India will provide all necessary assistance to health care education, and infrastructure for the state, adding that Northeast development is important for India's progress, the Union Minister said that Nagaland has a huge development opportunity.
The Government of India has increased the medical seats for doctors and nurses which has doubled to 1.6 lakhs in the country in the last nine years including the Nagaland Medical College, similarly, PG seats have also been doubled, the Union Minister said adding that Prime Minister Modi always stated:" we must not only work for the national opportunity but we must engage to international opportunities".
Mandaviya ji also requested the Chief Minister to set up a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in all government hospitals, the Government of India will provide all necessities to the state so that people of the state can receive affordable healthcare facilities and free medicines, and see that no family faces any deaths due to inaccessible of health care. Further, the Union Minister stated the future of NIMSR will be put in a location where people will come to Nagaland for treatment as well as Medical tourists and the Government of India will provide all requirements for the growth of the Health sector in Nagaland.
Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri Neiphiu Rio ji said that it is a historic day for the people of Nagaland as the state has got its first medical college after sixty years of Statehood. Rio Ji said that talks were going on that the medical college will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, as it is the best and biggest project of the state, however, due to engagements he could not make it, and acknowledged the Union Minister for inaugurating the dream project of medical college in Nagaland. Rio ji said that to fulfil dreams and to grow from strength to strength, Nagaland state is weak, "we are known as an insurgency state, our state is declared as disturbed state", he said adding that the draconian law of Armed Forces Special Powers Act AFSPA still exists because of the Naga political issue not being resolved and therefore many people hesitate to come to the state through for decades. Nagaland is one of the most peaceful states and it has also the record of the least crime, particularly among women. Women are the safest in the state as per the study of the country and we are proud of that, Rio ji said that sending the message that Nagaland is safe.
Rio ji also expressed his happiness that the first batch having 100 MBBS students, 85 from Nagaland and 15 from India quota have been fully occupied stating that people from other states have started coming to Nagaland and the people should give special care and love to the students who have come for their studies, so that they become our good ambassadors, and added that that more institution should come and the medical college should grow and become a centre of excellence.
He said that the medical college is a long-felt dream as the state has a severe shortage of doctors and shortcomings in the delivery of secondary and tertiary level healthcare, and today the state got the district hospital Kohima upgraded to the medical college. Neiphiu Rio further urged the Union Minister to upgrade the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research to a central institute so that good professors, scientists and specialist doctors will come with more confidence, and together grow with mighty India.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, Shri P Paiwang Konyak ji also said that the inauguration of the college is the fulfilment of the dream of establishing a Medical College in Nagaland that began during 2013-2014 when the state submitted a DPR under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of “Establishment of New Medical Colleges” attached with the existing District/Referral Hospital. He said that the State received approval with a grant of 189 crores and permission to establish the first State-run Medical College with 100 MBBS seats in Kohima and finally, with the approval of the National Medical Council, formal classes commenced on 1st September 2023 with the first batch of 100 students. (ANI)