Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohima Shanavas C emphasised fast-tracking the establishment of medical college as Nagaland was the only State in the country without a medical college so far and added that issues in the state, including non-existent medical college, “were our own creation.”
Shanavas said this while speaking at the 24th general conference of Nagaland Medical Students’ Association (NMSA) at ATI complex here on Friday.
He said once the medical college becomes functional, medical students from the state will be able to study at home and serve their people.
Shanavas also urged upon the Department of Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) to expedite the construction to ensure that the proposed medical college turned into a reality soon, in order to benefit the people. He noted that patients trust in doctors even if their lives were not fully in the hands of doctors. Shanavas therefore urged upon the medical students to practice their profession with compassion.
Reminding that since doctors belong to a noble profession, medical students become role models for the society.
He said that merely completing MBBS did not make one a professional doctor and so called upon the students to adapt to with changing times.
Meanwhile, in her address, H&FW director(Health) Dr Visasieu Kire mentioned that there were 776 health units in the State presently where 196 specialists were serving in various clinical and managerial capacities. She said Nagaland faces shortage of specialists even in district hospitals as per the norms of Indian Public Health Standard 2012.
She said requirement for specialists would increase after the establishment of two medical colleges(Kohima and Mon) as teaching faculties and senior residents at the upcoming Kohima Medical College alone would require 88 faculty members in the first year itself.
She urged the students to make up their mind and meet the criteria of the National Medical Commission to enter into the medical colleges. She explained that to join a medical college, a medical student had to first complete post-graduation, become senior residents and follow the norms of National Medical Commission.
Kire said the Kohima Medical College would require at least six professors, 20 associate professors, 24 assistant professors, 38 senior resident/tutor, totalling to 88 faculty members.
Further, each year the college would have to renew Letter of Permission (to start a college) with 88 faculty members.During the first renewal, the college would need 124 faculty, second renewal would require 134, while the third, fourth and fifth renewalswould require 151 faculty members, she added.
She reiterated her appeal to NMSA members to go for pre-clinicals and also write for both national and international journals to help them in their future career.
In his presidential address, NMSA president Kuveluzo Chizo noted that Nagaland was far behind other States in the health care system due to non-existenceof medical colleges in the State. He appealed to the authorities to give priority to completing the first medical college and medical professionals when it came to employment.
Due to shortage of healthcare personnel, he said the State government must create more posts for MBBS and BDS in every primary health centre and district hospital. Keeping in mind the WHO-recommended doctor-population ratio of 1:1000 – he said in the case with Nagaland it was 1:4,000 in Nagaland.
Chizo called for a free, fair and equal opportunity for all medical graduates in medical officer recruitment via advertised NPSC exams, both written and viva, to avoid dilution of giving the best healthcare to the people.
He also stressed on increasing the book grant of Rs 18,000 annually considering the rising costs of books.
The scheduled three-day event will include panel discussions on medical college and employment, medical bond and service rules, blood donation drive, devotional service and a workshop.
