Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, inaugurated the first medical college of Nagaland State known as Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) in Kohima, today.
In his address, Union Minister Mandaviya emphasized that NIMSR is not merely a medical college but also a research institute with a dual purpose of medical education and addressing the healthcare needs of the Naga people.
“NIMSR is not just a medical college; it is also a research institute. It will not only fulfill the purpose of imparting medical education but will also address the health issues of the Naga people,” Union Minister Mandaviya said.
The event was attended by Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland; TR Zeliang, Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland; and P Paiwang Konyak, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland.
Speaking during the occasion, Dr Mandaviya highlighted the Union Government’s commitment to improving medical education in the country, noting that the number of MBBS seats has increased from 64,000 to 160,000 in just nine years, with a similar increase in PG seats.
He encouraged students and stakeholders to consider international research opportunities and mentioned that the Union Government has introduced foreign language courses in many medical education institutes to give students an advantage in seeking jobs abroad.
“We must encash on opportunities abroad as well,” he said.
Dr Mandaviya further emphasized that strengthening medical, nursing, and pharmacy education is a key goal of the Union Government to enhance the nation’s healthcare sector.
“The aim is to ensure that each citizen of India is able to get access to affordable and accessible healthcare across the country,” he said. He also highlighted the expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country to improve access to quality and affordable medicines for all.
Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland called the day ‘historic’ for the state as the first medical college was inaugurated. He expressed gratitude to the Union Government for taking on this project, which had been a long-cherished dream of the people of Nagaland. He believed that NIMSR would strengthen secondary and tertiary healthcare in the state and hoped it would become a center of excellence in the future.
Minister Paiwang Konyak expressed that the inauguration of NIMSR is an auspicious occasion for Nagaland and thanked the Union Government for prioritizing the strengthening of medical education and healthcare infrastructure. He also extended his gratitude to partners like the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other agencies involved in the NIMSR Kohima project.
NIMSR Kohima aims at providing holistic medical education to MBBS students enrolled under NIMSR, comprehensive hospital based and community outreach health care services to patients through various Health Care Programs, and extra and intramural research facilities.
As per a PIB report, NIMSR Kohima’s mission is to provide holistic medical education to MBBS students and deliver comprehensive hospital-based and community outreach healthcare services through various health programs.
The institution, equipped with state-of-the-art skill development tools, laboratories, a central library, sports facilities, and a Medical Education Unit, boasts renowned faculty and residents dedicated to capacity building, competence development, collaboration, and cooperation. They seek to develop further through partnerships, MOUs, and networking with other reputed medical colleges and healthcare organizations of national and international repute.
NIMSR Kohima is affiliated with Nagaland University and received the Letter of Permission to admit 100 MBBS students from the academic year 2023-2024 from the National Medical Commission (NMC) in April 2023. This marks the start of Nagaland’s first medical college in 60 years since achieving statehood, fulfilling a long-cherished dream. A total of 85 MBBS students from Nagaland and six students from all India seats have been admitted and started their classes after the induction program on 1 September 2023.
“The inauguration of NIMSR Kohima is a crucial part of the Government’s efforts to improve the quality of medical education and healthcare infrastructure in Nagaland and the entire Northeast region,” added the PIB report.
The ceremony was attended by cabinet members of the Government of Nagaland, senior officials from the Union and Nagaland governments, members of civil societies, and special invitees.