Nagaland: Japan delegation explores healthcare, academic ties in Kohima

A seven-member delegation from Kagawa University, Japan, accompanied by senior officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) India Office, concluded a three-day visit to Kohima on Friday, marking a significant step towards strengthening healthcare collaboration between Nagaland and Japan.
The visit, held from January 29 to 31, focused on exploring opportunities to transform Nagaland’s healthcare landscape through advanced research, technology adoption, and human resource exchange.
Led by professor Wada Kenji, the delegation undertook a series of site visits and consultative meetings across key health institutions in the state. These included the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), and the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) at Seikhazou, where the team interacted with medical faculty members and frontline healthcare workers.
One of the highlights of the visit was an interaction at Science College Kohima, where discussions centered on academic collaboration and “human-to-human” knowledge exchange. Professor Kenji highlighted Kagawa University’s global leadership in Rare Sugar research, crisis management, and telemedicine, and proposed joint innovative research initiatives tailored to Nagaland’s unique topography and biodiversity.
During an interactive session at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DHFW), the visiting delegation shared their assessment of Nagaland’s healthcare challenges, noting parallels with Japan, particularly the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and cancer. Discussions were held on potential collaboration in cancer prevention and treatment protocols.
Professor Kenji also presented Kagawa University’s experience with the K-MIX R Electronic Health Information System and iCTG technology, which are currently used to deliver healthcare services to remote and inhabited islands in Japan.
The model was identified as highly relevant for Nagaland’s hilly and hard-to-reach regions. Further deliberations explored collaboration in clinical engineering and hospital management to enhance the efficiency of secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in the state.