State health care facility ‘far from satisfactory’: Longon

He said despite Nagaland having established a state referral hospital under Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, ten district hospitals, one state health food laboratory, two TB hospitals, one mental hospital, one para-medical training centre, four school of nursing, one Ayush hospital, 12 community health centre, 124 primary health centre, three dispensary and 398 sub health centre, “the health care delivery system in the state is far from satisfactory”. 

P. Longon, said this while speaking as the chief guest at the two-day golden jubilee celebration of Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) under  the theme “learn to serve humanity” at Administrative Training Institute.

He said “the need of the hour is to introspect seriously and render quality care to the people of the state”. Longon urged upon the medical officers and students to help the government streamline the department and not indulge in private practice while serving as a government employee.

He stressed on the need for every doctor to reach a level of competence, as laid down in the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 and to remember the “Hippocratic oath” to avoid professional misconduct and, maintain dignity of profession. He also encouraged the students saying: “The future doctors should take one’s assignment as a challenge and serve the people irrespective of their posting place and facilities available.”

Longon also expressed appreciation that the state had its own medical council– Nagaland Medical Council (NMC), which would control the right to practice, provide guidance, maintain standards of practice and personal conduct of its bonafide members.  

Longon lauded NMSA for addressing the issue of allotment of MBBS seats to non-Nagas and urged the students to be bold and united with a common goal and not to get distracted by individual interest. He called upon the government, medical officials and student leaders to coordinate in order to make the Medical College a reality and to ensure that the first academic session of the college begins by 2016-17. This would not only help the students but reduce the efflux of patients to other states for treatments. It would also have a positive bearing on the state’s economy, he added.

Later, the minister also released the NMSA magazine titled ARUBAH.

Guest of honour for the event, retired PD H& FW & ex-president NMSA, Dr. Neiphi Kire lamented that Nagaland, even after celebrating 50 years of statehood, was yet to have its own medical college. He also pointed out that most district hospitals and community health centres (CHC) do not have the required number of doctors to man the hospitals, particularly specialists at CHC and district hospitals.

Delivering the presidential address, NMSA president, Kipito Awomi highlighted various issues faced by the medical students and doctors such as medical college, non-Naga appearing the state exams, eligibility criteria to be improvised and creation of more medical officer posts.

Short speeches were also delivered by commissioner & secretary H&FW, M Patton; principal director H&FW, Nandira Changkija and president NIDA, Kedozeto Punyu.

The gathering was enthralled by an instrumental by winner of Naga’s got talent season 1, Bokato Kiho and welcome song by Ao Baptist Church Kohima. Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Kuotho T Nyuwi and the programme chaired by Japheth Thono and Vikono Kar. The inaugural programme was followed by session 2.