Japan extends INR 564 crore loan for Medical College Hospital at NIMSR in Nagaland

DIMAPUR — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has extended an official development assistance (ODA) loan of 10,008 million Japanese Yen  (approximately INR 564 crore) to support the establishment of a Medical College Hospital at the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) in Kohima.

As per an update received here on Tuesday, the ODA loan agreement was signed between Vikas Sheel, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Saito Mitsunori, Chief Representative, JICA India.

Mitsunori underscored JICA’s commitment towards supporting India's healthcare sector and promoting universal access to quality healthcare services across the country during the event, stating that it aligns with the development agenda of both the countries, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

With a co-operation period from February 2024 to October 2035, the project will be executed in close collaboration with the NIMSR and other stakeholders, to address the pressing healthcare challenges faced by Nagaland, which currently ranks low in terms of healthcare access and quality with limited medical infrastructure and faces shortage of trained medical personnel.

Taken up in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the project endeavours to achieve the establishment of tertiary health services, enhancement of medical education, and access to healthcare for all, it said.

The update stated that the project will develop a 400-bedded Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kohima, providing tertiary-level medical services to the people of the state. Through clinical-based education, including the training of physicians and specialists, it will help strengthen the medical human resource development system, thereby contributing to the promotion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the region.

Further, by establishing the MCH in the state capital, the project seeks to improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly for underserved populations in Nagaland, it added.