Nagaland’s first medical college gets NMC approval for 100 seats

KOHIMA — In a significant development, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a ‘letter of intent’ for 100 MBBS seats for the academic session 2023-2024 at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), Phriebagie, Kohima.

State Health Minister P Paiwang Konyak said the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NMC gave the permission on April 18.

The department would be sending a letter of acceptance to the NMC in a day or two after which the latter will issue a Letter of Permission (LOP) to start the college, Konyak said, adding that it is expecting to receive the LOP soon.

“A dream of a medical college in Nagaland has come into reality today”, he remarked on getting NMC’s approval.

He said the academic session for the current year will start by June and July.

The teaching hospitals, faculties, equipment are now ready and the session should not delay any further, he said.

The NIMSR is expected to be fully completed by May 31 for the 2023-2024 batch to start off.  He encouraged the engineering wing and contractors to finish some of the incomplete complexes as early as possible. There should not be any problems when the students arrive, he added. 

Commissioner and Secretary of Health department,Y Kikheto Sema said the “darkest period for medical college is over”.

“But this is just the humble beginning and there are lots to do from now on,” he added.

The NMC issued the LOI after the team conducted a physical verification of the medical college on March 27. The team acknowledged improvements in a short period against its earlier inspection on January 10, he informed.

The team further expressed satisfaction at the NIMSR’s affiliated teaching hospital at NHAK and remarked that it is one of ‘best govt. hospitals in the country’.

Read: Central officials visit Nagaland’s first medical college site, review progress

Highlighting their first visit in January, he said that the department was ‘not prepared’ and ‘nervous’ back then. The NMC had served a show cause notice and the department had to file an affidavit along with agreement assuring that everything would be completed within May 31, he said.

The first interview was held on February 14 and 15 where 48 candidates were interviewed and 19 were selected. Out of 19 faculties, 17 sent their consent while two are still waiting to get NOC from the college they teach. Meanwhile, four of them have already joined, he informed.

The second phase of the interview was conducted on March 29 and 30. Out of 44 who appeared, 13 were selected on the basis of the post availability and consent was received from 12.

In order to qualify for the LOP, the third phase interview was conducted on April 14 and 15. A total of 64 appeared against 39 posts, for which results will be out in a day or two.

‘For the third grade staff and others, a committee is working on it and very soon it will be put up for cabinet approval,’ he informed.

By starting the medical college, he expressed hoped that students who wished to study in the state will be able to study here, and also reduce their expenditure. He added that there is a huge demand for medical seats and expressed hope that the college will get students from within and outside the state.

He further informed that the faculties were selected purely on merit basis.

Professor Soumya Chakraborty, Director-cum-Dean of NIMSR, said the institute might be located in Kohima but it is an asset for India because people are expressing happiness from across the country.

She also informed that 99% of books for the library have been delivered and equipment consignments are on the way

85% seats for Nagaland

As per the NMC, out of 100 MBBS seats, 15 will be for ‘all India’ and 85% will be for the state of Nagaland. If all India seats are vacant, it will come to Nagaland, Chakraborty said, adding that they are presently in the process of making the prospectus, which will be given to the NMC for circulation.

As for the interview process, she said there is no conflict of interest and confidentiality was maintained in the entire process of selecting the faculties.

‘Screening of faculties was done by a reputed university from outside Nagaland. Short listing was done and an interview was conducted. Experts were from AIIMs, Central govt., and state govt.,’ she informed.

Principal Director of Health department, Dr. Vibeituonuo M Sachu also informed that the NIMSR’S affiliated teaching hospital at NHAK will continue for the next few years till Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) 400-bedded hospital project is completed at the institute.

Design for Mon Medical College approved

The Health minister informed that the issue regarding approach road to Mon Medical College was resolved, and the design for the college has been approved. Within a short period, civil works construction will also start, he said.

Meanwhile, Kikheto Sema said that the money sanctioned is not enough for the 500-bedded infrastructure and 500 students. He added that once the road is done, the contractor has to finish the work within 30 months.