Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has extended a significant official development assistance (ODA) loan amounting to approximately Rs 564 crore (10,008 million Japanese Yen) to support the establishment of a medical college hospital (MCH) at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Kohima.
JICA pumps life into Nagaland’s Healthcare
The loan agreement was signed by Vikas Sheel, additional secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance, and SAITO Mitsunori, chief representative, JICA India, underlining Japan’s commitment to bolstering healthcare infrastructure and medical education in India. Mitsunori emphasized the project’s importance in addressing Nagaland’s healthcare needs, highlighting it as a dedicated effort to further JICA’s support for India’s healthcare sector and ensure universal access to quality healthcare services nationwide.
Scheduled to run from February 2024 to October 2035, the project will be carried out in collaboration with the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and other stakeholders. It aims to tackle the urgent healthcare challenges in Nagaland, a state with a population of about 1.98 million, marked by limited medical infrastructure and a shortage of trained medical professionals.
The project’s objectives include establishing tertiary health services, enhancing medical education, and ensuring healthcare access for all residents of Nagaland.
The cornerstone of the project is the development of a 400-bed MCH in Kohima, providing tertiary-level medical services to the state’s residents. Through clinical-based education and training programs for physicians and specialists, it aims to strengthen the medical human resource development system, contributing to the advancement of universal health coverage (UHC) in the region. By situating the MCH in the state capital, the project aims to improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly for underserved populations in Nagaland. This initiative aligns with the Indian government’s focus on reducing regional disparities and fostering socio-economic development in the Northeast region by enhancing healthcare infrastructure and medical education.
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