Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on October 14, inaugurated the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) in Kohima, Nagaland.
“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,” said the Health Minister on the occasion.
Highlighting the commitment of the Union Government for improving medical education in Nagaland, he stated that in a span of just 9 years, the MBBS seats in Nagaland has increased from 64,000 to 1,60,000. “Similarly PG seats have also doubled in the last 9 years”, he said.
The Union Health Minister encouraged the students and other stakeholders to not limit their scope of research within national borders. “We must encash on opportunities abroad as well,” he said. Further, he informed that the Government of India has started foreign language courses in many medical education institutes so that students can have an edge in getting jobs abroad.
Dr. Mandaviya said that strengthening the medical, nursing and pharmacy education in the country is an endeavour of the Union Government for the holistic development and expansion of the country’s health 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.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who was also present on the occasion stated that it was a long cherished dream of the people of Nagaland to have a medical college in their state. He also said that NIMSR would help the state in strengthening its secondary and tertiary healthcare and he further hoped that it would become a centre of excellence in the coming days.
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, extra and intramural research facilities.
The NIMSR, with its state of art skill development domain specific teaching learning tools, laboratories, central library, sports facilities and Medical Education Unit has renowned Faculty and Residents who continue to focus on capacity building, competence and confidence development, collaboration, and cooperation 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 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 after 60 years of statehood, realizing the long-cherished dream of the people of Nagaland.
85 MBBS students from state of Nagaland and 6 students from all India seats got admitted in NIMSR and have joined MBBS classes after induction program on 1.9.2023.
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.