In a momentous event, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, inaugurated the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) in Kohima, Nagaland. The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of Shri Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland; Shri T R Zeliang, Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland; and Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland P Paiwang Konyak.
Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that NIMSR serves a dual purpose as both a medical college and a research institute. He highlighted its critical role in providing medical education and addressing healthcare challenges specific to the Naga population. The Union Government’s commitment to enhancing medical education in Nagaland was underscored by the remarkable increase in MBBS seats, rising from 64,000 to 1,60,000 in just nine years. Similarly, the number of PG seats has doubled within the same timeframe.
Furthermore, Dr. Mandaviya encouraged students and stakeholders not to limit their research endeavors within national boundaries. He stressed the importance of seizing international opportunities and shared that the Union Government has introduced foreign language courses in several medical education institutes to provide students with an advantage when seeking employment abroad.
The Union Health Minister’s vision aligns with the Government’s holistic approach to strengthening medical, nursing, and pharmacy education across the nation, ultimately improving the accessibility of affordable healthcare for every Indian citizen. The expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras throughout the country is another step in enhancing access to quality and affordable medicines.
Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio marked the day as a historic one for the people of Nagaland, as the state’s first medical college was inaugurated. He expressed gratitude to the Union Government for their unwavering support in making this dream a reality. NIMSR is expected to fortify secondary and tertiary healthcare in the state, with hopes that it will evolve into a center of excellence in the future.
Shri P Paiwang Konyak acknowledged the significance of NIMSR’s inauguration in Nagaland, emphasizing the Government’s commitment to strengthening medical education and healthcare infrastructure in the state. He expressed gratitude to the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other partners involved in the NIMSR Kohima project.
NIMSR Kohima’s mission encompasses providing holistic medical education to MBBS students, delivering comprehensive hospital-based and community outreach healthcare services, and facilitating extramural and intramural research. The institute boasts state-of-the-art teaching and learning tools, libraries, sports facilities, and renowned faculty members.
Affiliated with Nagaland University, NIMSR Kohima received permission to admit 100 MBBS students for the academic year 2023-2024 from the National Medical Commission (NMC). This achievement realizes the long-standing dream of the people of Nagaland, marking the first medical college in the state after 60 years of statehood.
The inauguration of NIMSR Kohima signifies a pivotal step in the Government’s commitment to enhancing medical education and healthcare infrastructure in Nagaland and the entire Northeast region. The event saw the presence of cabinet members of the Government of Nagaland, senior officials from the Union and Nagaland Government, members of civil societies, and special invitees.
