Nagaland: After 60 Years Of Statehood, First Medical College Opens In Kohima

60 yrs after attaining statehood, Nagaland got its first medical college on Saturday when Union health and family welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), in Kohima realising the long-cherished dream of the people of the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mandaviya said that “NIMSR is not just a medical college, it is also a research institute. It will not only fulfil the purpose of imparting medical education but will also address the health issues of the Naga people.” 

NIMSR Kohima is affiliated to Nagaland University. It received the Letter of Permission for admission of 100 MBBS seats from academic year 2023-2024 from the National Medical Commission (NMC), in April 2023 paving way to start the first Medical College in the state.

With the approval of National Medical Council, formal classes had commenced since 01 September 2023 with the first batch of 100 students, which includes 85 MBBS students from Nagaland and 6 students from all India seats.

In his address, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio termed it as a historic day for the people of Nagaland as their dream of a medical college was fulfilled after a span of 60 years of statehood.

Despite being one of the oldest states in the region, Rio said there was no regional or national institute in the state, particularly in higher education sector.

Rio pointed out that this was the reason why all students from the region were going out to other states like a “one-way traffic” with none coming in thus creating an imbalance especially in the higher education sector.

Addressing the gathering, Nagaland's Health & Family Welfare minister, Paiwang Konyak, expressed optimism that the inauguration of the college would lead to an improvement in the healthcare delivery system within the state.

He also shared the alarming statistic that Nagaland had a doctor-patient ratio of 5386:1, one of the lowest in the country, highlighting the severe shortage of medical professionals, a problem exacerbated during the pandemic.

The minister hoped that the number of MBBS seats would increase in the coming years, making affordable medical education accessible and also mitigate the shortage of doctors in the state and country as well.

The process of setting up of the state's first medical college began in 2013-14, when the projects' Detailed Project Report or DPR was submitted.

Subsequently, the approval and grant of Rs 189 crore was received along with permission to establish the first State run Medical College with 100 MBBS seats in Kohima.

The inauguration of NIMSR Kohima is a crucial part of the Centre's efforts to improve the quality of medical education and healthcare infrastructure in Nagaland and the entire Northeast region.