Naga Hospital to be used as medical college till NIMSR is operational

The Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) Society and Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to affiliate the latter as the teaching hospital till the NIMSR at Phriebagei, Kohima, becomes operational.

In this regard, the nomenclature of NHAK will be temporarily re-designated as NIMSR hospital.

Providing more information on this, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Y Kikheto Sema, said the NHAK will be utilised as the teaching hospital for the first and second year before reverting to its original name once the NIMSR hospital at Phriebagei starts functioning.

In view of this arrangement, he requested the authority concerned to change the NHAK signboard to NIMSR as soon as possible.

He also informed that the 400-bedded teaching hospital at the campus is expected to be completed within a year after signing an MoU by September with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which will assist in setting up the facility.

Giving further updates on the NIMSR, the official said the administrative building of the facility will be completed by May 2023, while hostels for both boys and girls are expected to be completed by April.

The sports complex, quarters for the dean and directors and some staff are almost ready. Quarters for other faculties, library, and kitchen are expected to be ready by June, he added.

‘As far as manpower is concerned, the screening is done and about to conduct the interview but is halted because of the election model code of conduct. The department will submit its proposal to the authority concerned for conducting the recruitment to the high posts,’ he informed.

During the National Medical Council (NMC) visit to NIMSR on Jan. 10, the department was assured that the infrastructure will be ready before the academic session starts, he said adding that the medical college is the burning desire of the people and therefore the department is working hard to achieve it.

He also informed that the Health department over 9,000 employees, out of which 64% is non-technical staff and 36% technical staff. While there is a huge excess in grade-III and grade-IV posts, there is a shortage of technical staff, he said while suggesting the excess grade 4 posts be converted to technical posts.

The health officer lamented ‘most of the senior health officers in the directorate busy with work equivalent to grade-IV’. On this, he challenged them to extend their professional assistance and services in the hospitals, adding that the state government is ready to give promotions.

On the state health officers and medical practitioners who juggle between private and government hospitals, he said they can retire if they are not willing to give full-time to government hospitals.