Minister for Health and Family Welfare, P. Paiwang Konyak on Wednesday announced that the State has received approval of 100 MBBS seats “Letter of Intent” for the academic year 2022-24 from the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC).
The dream of having a Medical college in Nagaland has come into reality today, added Konyak.
“We will be sending the letter of acceptance within one week to enable MARB to issue Letter of Permission for 100 MBBS seats for the academic year 2023-24,” he said.
While appreciating the efforts put up by the team, Konyak encouraged the engineering wing and the contractors to complete the entire complex at the earliest so that without any prolong the Medical College can begin functioning by June or July 2023.
He informed that the Medical College must be completed by 31 May 2023 as per the Agreement.
Further, Konyak informed that while inspecting the Mon Medical College site in Mon on 11 April along with the department they found some issue in the approach road and it has been corrected and as far as the design is concerned it has been approved. The Civil works and construction will also start very soon, he added.
Nagaland Minister of H&FW, P. Paiwang Konyak with Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary and other officials at NIMSR on 19 April 2023.
Of 100 seats, 15 will be All India Seats and 85 will be for the State of Nagaland
With regard to the percentage of seats out of the 100, Dr. Soumya Chakraborty, Director Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR), informed that it will be as per the rule of the NMC, out of 100 seats, 15 will be All India Seats and 85 will be for the State of Nagaland and if All India seats remain vacant those seats will be allocated to the State.
Chakraborty also asserted that there was no conflict of interest and confidentiality was maintained during the entire selection process of the faculties. She said, screening was done by the reputed university recruitment cell people who are not from Nagaland and the shortlisted candidates interviewed by experts from AIIMS and other reputed institutions from across the country.
“I assure you we have gone for the best not only for the faculty but also for the Equipments, the human and other resources,” added Chakraborty.
Historic day for people of Nagaland
Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare stated that it is a historic day for the people of Nagaland to start Medical College after 60 years of State of statehood. He highlighted that the MARB of NMC on 10 January 2023 made a surprise visit to NIMSR, Kohima and during their first visit they were not satisfied with the infrastructure, manpower and therefore, issued show-cause notice to the State on 1 February. Accordingly, on behalf of the State Government, Sema submitted Agreement, Affidavit and compliance report on 7 February that all required infrastructures, Manpower, Equipments, Teaching Hospital etc will be ready by 31 May 2023 to start the 100 MBBS seats for the Academic session 2023-24. Whereas, the 2nd compliance Agreement, Affidavit was sent to the NMC on 6 March.
The 2nd surprise assessment visit by a team of NMC on 27 March was perhaps satisfied with the much improvement of infrastructure, Hospital, Manpower etc within a record period of time, said Sema.
Further, Sema informed that the first interview for the faculty was held on 14 and 15 February 2023 and 48 candidates were interviewed out of which 19 candidates qualified and 17 candidates have sent their consent willing to serve in the Nagaland Medical College. The 2nd phase of interview was conducted on 29 and 30 March where 44 candidates appeared, and 13 candidates were selected, and it received consent from 12 candidates. Whereas the 3rd phase of interview was held on 14 and 15 April where 64 candidates appeared the interview and the results will be declared on 20 and 21 April, he added.
With regard to the 3rd grade and others, Sema said that a Committee is on the job and very soon it will be putting up to the Governing Council and the Cabinet for the approval.
