On 14th October 2023, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh L Mandaviya officially inaugurated Nagaland’s first medical college, the Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research (NIMSR) in Phriebagie, Kohima. Mandaviya emphasized that NIMSR would provide medical education, employment opportunities, and focused healthcare facilities for the state. He also stressed the importance of viewing healthcare as a service, not a commercial venture, in line with traditional practices.
NIMSR aims to be both a medical college and a research institute, addressing local health issues and providing educational and research opportunities. The Health Minister praised Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s efforts in fulfilling the vision for better health facilities in the Northeast, emphasizing the region’s significance for India’s growth. He encouraged the establishment of Jan Aushadi Kendras in state health facilities and proposed partnerships with Ayushman Bharat and CM Health Insurance Scheme to assist underserved patients. Mandaviya highlighted the need to strengthen medical and nursing education to meet the growing sector demands and mentioned collaborations with other countries to address the shortage of healthcare professionals. He also promoted medical tourism as a means of attracting visitors to the region.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio considered the opening of NIMSR a historic day for Nagaland, fulfilling a 60-year-old dream of having a medical college in the state. He addressed the imbalance of students leaving the state for higher education due to the lack of regional institutions. Rio lamented the hindrance caused by the unresolved Naga political issue and the presence of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which impacted tourism. He hoped NIMSR would grow into a center of excellence and contribute to the state’s healthcare sector.
Health & Family Welfare Minister Paiwang Konyak expressed hope that NIMSR’s inauguration would enhance healthcare delivery in the state by providing quality education, conducting research, and specialized care. He acknowledged the acute shortage of doctors in the state and the need for increased MBBS seats to address the issue. The process of establishing the medical college began in 2013-14, and formal classes started on September 1, 2023, with the first batch of 100 students.
Dr. Soumya Chakraborty, the Director cum Dean of NIMSR, aspired for NIMSR to become a center of excellence in academics, research, and patient care, producing well-rounded doctors.
The inaugural event included the donation of rare pathological specimens collected over a decade by Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhütso, the proprietor of KOHIMA hospital and Kohima town MLA. The ceremony was attended by various dignitaries, and a monolith was unveiled during the event.