The government of Nagaland has launched the Chief Minister’s
Mobile Operation Theatre (CMMOT) in an attempt to cater to providing
specialised medical care, including minimally invasive surgery, to patients
living in remote areas of the state. As per the update, the mobile surgical
unit will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and portable diagnostic
tools such as ultrasound, X-ray, endoscopy, and blood testing equipment, while
doctors committed to serving underprivileged communities will ensure that
villagers receive quality health services at their doorstep. It is a
commendable move towards promoting health equity. If effectively implemented,
the initiative will save many lives, immensely contribute towards the wellbeing
of the marginalised section of the society, reduce spending on health services,
and bridge the healthcare gap between urban and rural areas. To ensure that the
needy avail the services from health experts, the state government should launch
aggressive awareness campaigns in remote areas. Civil society organisations,
village councils and churches also should help spread the message.
While the just-launched mobile operation theatre programme
is laudable, it should be taken as a stopgap arrangement to address urgent
health challenges faced by the people in remote villages. The long-term focus
should be on providing quality health services to everyone. It’s a fact that
the state has made a noticeable stride in the healthcare sector of late, partly
necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s first medical college in
Kohima is operational, while a similar facility is under construction in Mon
district. The Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CHIMS), which aims at
providing universal health coverage to the citizens of Nagaland, is another
laudable scheme launched by the state government. However, the plight of people
living in remote areas remains unaddressed due to a lack of health facilities,
with most hospitals located in Kohima and Dimapur. The existing hospitals in
many districts are plagued by poor infrastructure, lack of medical equipment
and inadequate manpower. The government seriously needs to look into these
issues; only then can health disparities be bridged and other health-related
programmes, including the mobile operation theatre, will be effective. It also
should invest more in rural health infrastructure, set up specialised hospitals
at strategic locations across the state, ensure that health workers are
stationed at their places of posting, and improve road connectivity. This will
enable people in the state to access timely health services from a facility not
far from their homes. Healthcare is a human right.
