Nagaland: 11-storey building for teaching hospital at NIMSR

KOHIMA: The proposed 400-bedded teaching hospital project at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) campus in Phriebagei, Kohima, will be set up in a multi-storey building with “14 levels” and a rooftop helipad.

The ambitious teaching hospital to be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will also be equipped with various facilities related to patient care services, teaching facilities, and latest technologies in healthcare, it was informed.

Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Y Kikheto Sema, on Wednesday said the design for the project is almost finalised after a series of discussions with the JICA team, who are on a two day visit to the state.

A 17-member Japanese team comprising officials from JICA Headquarters led by Rei Sagawa and Hajime Taniguchi, Senior Representative of JICA India, and JICA Survey Team discussed the proposed teaching hospital project with state officials in Kohima on Wednesday.

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Issues like finalisation of facility planning based on geological survey and feasibility, cost of the project, and timeline of project implementation along with formation of project management were discussed during the meeting of JICA representatives with Kikheto Sema, Principal Director of Health department Dr. Vibeituonuo M. Sachu and other officials, Director-cum-Dean of NIMSR Dr. Soumya Chakraborty, and officials of NIMSR.

Kikheto Sema informed that soil testing at the project site has been completed and it will be JICA’s second project in the state after the Nagaland Forest Management Project.

Maintaining that the teaching hospital facility could be one of the biggest externally-aided projects in Nagaland, he appealed to both the teams -- JICA and Medical -- to collaboration and work closely in order to complete it within the stipulated time frame.

He had earlier said that the teaching hospital building was expected to be completed within a year after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with JICA by September this year.

550-bedded facility in offing

Providing more details on the proposed project, Dr. Kikameren Longkumer, Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare, on Wednesday said the facility would include a building with basements, ground floor and 11 floors, as well as gardens and other facilities.

He added the detailed project report (DPR) will be submitted to the union ministry, which will be followed by signing of an agreement.

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The multi-story building once completed will serve as a teaching hospital for NIMSR. Till such time the JICA project becomes operational, the 300-bedded teaching facility at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) will be utilised as the teaching hospital, for which an MoU has already been signed.

By 2029-2030, there will be 550-bedded (including 400-bedded facility by JICA and 150-bedded Mother and Child block) teaching hospital at NIMSR and the NHAK will be reverted to its original name, said Longkumer.

He added that a series of discussion were held with JICA team over two days and it was agreed to include construction of the teaching hospital building, provision of equipment and IT&C as well as technical collaboration in health sector.