Health officials review preparedness of Nagaland’s first medical college for operation

Our Correspondent

Kohima, Dec. 17 (EMN): Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Y Kikheto Sema on Saturday said that “grace period” cannot be given to complete the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), erstwhile Nagaland Medical College Kohima, project if the completion deadline is missed.

Sema, who recently assumed the charge of Commissioner and Secretary, H&FW, said this while addressing the health officials, engineers, and contractors during an inspection at the project site to stock of the work progress.

Reminding that the state doesn’t have a single medical college even after 60 years of statehood, he challenged the officials to ask what they could contribute to the project.

‘During 15th Finance Commission, the project was discussed and an assurance was given to start classes by 2021. But issues such as land acquisition, landslide, and COVID cropped up, and we are behind schedule now,’ he said.

He added that the department should not leave aside the job to engineers alone, while suggesting that the officers take full responsibility of one block/building each for better work progress.

‘There should not be any holiday for this kind of project. We have to work on war footing on the basis of priority’, Sema said, adding that it is the burning desire of the people to see the completion of the project.

On the sports complex which is ready, he pointed out that it is “not the priority” and requested the department to list out priorities needed for action so that engineers and contractors could focus on those areas. Some areas of concern that need urgent action include sufficient water supply, accommodation for faculties, and putting up of signage, he added.

Pointing out the project site looks barren, he suggested of planting medicinal plants in the area.

He also proposed to have a meeting with all the contractors and give assurance to complete the work within the stipulated timeline.

Dr. Soumya Chakraborty, Director and Dean of NIMSR, listed out priorities needed for action for the college to start the first academic session next year. She suggested scrutinising the faculty by an external scrutiny committee, saying that no faculty team is well aware of the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines.

She said that the faculty for the first medical college in the state is supposed to arrive by the first week of February 2023 but their accommodation is not yet ready. Professors and associate professors’ accommodations should be furnished, otherwise people will not join, she added.

Chakraborty, who had been at the project site for the past six days, pointed out that the lecture theatre is also not ready and that smart classrooms should be immediately set up.

Besides that, some other areas of concern included procurement of books for the library, equipment, signage, wash basins, security, CCTVs, 24×7 electricity and water.

Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, Vikato Kinimi, called upon all to gear up, put hands together and complete the project. He also expressed concern if the NMC will certify the college.

One of the contractors present at the meeting said they are working day and night to make sure that the project is completed on time. He also assured to install signage at the facility.