Nagaland facing acute shortage of doctors, says Dr. Kuveluzo Chizo

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 8 (EMN): The Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) strongly vouch for creation of more posts of MBBS and BDS graduates, and a dental surgeon post in every Primary Health Centre (PHC) and district hospitals, said NMSA president Dr. Kuveluzo Chizo, while citing acute shortage of healthcare personnel in the state.

Speaking at the ongoing three-day biennial 24th General Conference of NMSA, which commenced on Friday, Dr. Chizo informed that the doctor to population ratio in Nagaland is a meagre 1:4000, which is one doctor for every 4000 people, against the 1:1000 ration recommended by the WHO.

Maintaining that free and fair opportunity should be given to all medical graduates in the recruitment process through NPSC exams, he said it is needed to provide best healthcare services to the people.

Although they receive a stipend of INR 18,000 per year with INR 3000 book grants through the state since 2001, Dr. Chizo said the price of tomes for medical knowledge has become a costly affair.

He, therefore, appealed to consider increasing the grant so that the load of their pursuit of knowledge could be reduced; adding that a memorandum in this regard would be submitted to the competent authority.

Delay in medical college

The NMSA president also expressed dismay over the prolonged delay in completion of the much-needed state’s first medical college in Kohima after bringing immense happiness to young medical and practicing doctors when the facility was approved about nine years ago before the actual construction work commenced in 2019.

“With the project under the able hands of the National Health Project, we dream and hope of a quality medical education centre for our people that will gain good repute within our state in particular, and Northeast in general,” Dr. Chizo said.

Reminding the leaders that the state is far behind other states in healthcare sector, he requested to treat the matter with urgency and complete the first medical college.

It may be mentioned that Minister of Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom had recently  said that the much-awaited Nagaland Medical College in Kohima, which is likely to be renamed as Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, would be made functional from next academic session (2023).

He added that the construction work of the facility is 60% complete and a total of 60 posts have been created for the faculty.

‘State needs more specialists’

Dr. Visasieu Kire, Director (Health), Health and Family Welfare, informed that Nagaland has 776 health units, including district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, sub-centres, TB and chest disease hospital, and state mental institute.

She said that the state currently has 196 specialists, regular in-service doctors in various clinical and managerial posts but according to Indian Public Health Standards 2012, the state has shortage of specialists even for district hospitals.

She said the requirement for specialists would increase with the establishment of two medical colleges in the state – one each in Kohima and Mon districts. She added that the medical college in Kohima alone will require about 88 teaching faculty members for 22 different departments in the first year itself.

As such, she highlighted the gathering about the criteria to enter into a medical college as a faculty member or senior resident as per the norms of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Learn to serve humanity — DC

Speaking on the occasion, Shanavas C, Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, said the current medical students will become full-fledged doctors sooner or later and that the noble profession of such medical personnel has much more value than the name suggests.

He urged the students to learn to serve humanity as per their motto as they have tremendous responsibility in their hands to save lives. “Over centuries, this profession has grown into a beautiful profession,” Shanavas said, adding,”there is an element of respect whenever we are but this respect comes with responsibility”.

While recalling how the state was reeling under pressure to combat the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic due to the shortage of medical personnel and healthcare workers, coupled with the lack of proper medical equipment and infrastructure, he expressed hope that the medical college would be completed soon and benefit the students as well as people.

Reminding the medical fraternity to be compassionate towards patients, he asked them to adapt to the fast-changing world in terms of situation, technology, method or technique and be updated so that they can best serve the people.

While emphasising on the need to create awareness and sensitise people to live healthy, Shanavas also underscored the importance of good coordination between medical professionals, policy makers and district administration in times of pandemic or in any situation. 

‘Asclepius’ released

The biennial magazine of NMSA titled “Asclepius” was also released during the programme.

As part of the three-day conference, the association will also conduct an awareness-cum-blood donation drive in collaboration with NSACS, Blood Bank NHAK and Red Ribbon Club of Baptist College, Kohima on Saturday.

It will also organise a general body meeting and devotional service workshop session on Sunday.