Foundation of 2nd Medical College in Nagaland laid

Kohima, Feb 27: Nagaland, the northeastern state known for its militancy and insurgency in the recent past, has now started marching on the path of progress and development. The foundation laying of the second medical college at Mon is the indication of this paradigm shift in Nagaland.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Friday laid the foundation of the second medical college at Mon. The college will be set up at the cost of Rs. 325 crore with the Centre sharing Rs 292 crore. The college will be completed by 2023-34.

Mon is one of the most backward and farthest situated districts of the state. The medical college here would lessen the troubles of the local people who otherwise would rush to Kohima or Guwahati for better treatment. This college, after completion would provide healthcare facilities to nearly 2.5 lakh people.

Addressing the gathering after foundation laying ceremony Dr. harsh Vardhan said the holistic development of northeast region is being planned and implemented by the visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last six years.

The Minister said that there are 562 medical colleges all over the country out of which 286 are in the government sector while 276 are managed by the private sector. In addition 175 more medical colleges are in the process of completion. In 2013-14 there were 52000 MBBS seats which have now gone to 84000, he added.

Harsh Vardhan said that 150,000 health and wellness centres are set up in the country to extend healthcare to the masses. He said that the government has planned to eliminate TB by 2025 from the country and appealed to the state governments to ensure its success.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in his address observed that the medical college would not only benefit Mon and Nagaland but also the people living in neighboring states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and even Myanmar.

Stating that the medical college would be run by the state government under Public-Private-Partnership, the Chief Minister outlined that Mon Medical College is one of the 75 district medical colleges to be constructed in the districts of the country where people have been historically deprived of development and health facilities due to their location disadvantage.

Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Minister S Pangnyu Phom while addressing the gathering stated that Nagaland has never had the privilege of having two medical colleges being sanctioned by the Centre. He stated that the desire to establish medical college was not only to produce more manpower but also to enhance healthcare delivery.

He added that Nagaland at the time of statehood inherited a deplorable state of healthcare facilities, however over the years healthcare in the state has improved although much is needed to be done.

Phom said that most of the private healthcare is concentrated in Kohima and Dimapur and the rest are dependent on public healthcare.

Due to lack of facilities and equipment in public healthcare, most people from the other parts of Nagaland are not able to avail proper healthcare services, he added.