Conveying a strong message that Nagaland was poised to prosper provided stake holders pay adequate attention to the states rich medical bio-diversity, state minister for health and family welfare, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu said over 650 medicinal plants identified in Nagaland till date were yet to be exploited.

He was addressing a high profile conference organized by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) under the theme, ‘Chikitsa’ at Swabhumi, Salt Lake City, Kolkata Saturday.

Azo rued that Nagaland despite being one of the earliest states in the country was yet to establish a medical college. This, he pointed out has resulted in the state health department’s helplessness in extending the much needed tertiary service to the people.

During the conference also attended by Union Minister of state (MoS) for health and family welfare, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, ICC  vice president Roopen Roy and AIMS CEO Ramesh C Deka along with West Bengal minister of state for health and family welfare, Azo pointed out that the absence of tertiary services was draining huge resources of the state.

“With scores of people compelled to seek care outside the state, the absence of tertiary services and specialist man-power causes undue inconveniences” to the people besides draining the states resources, he said.

The minister has sought the support of stake holders, especially the private sector to partner the state government in tertiary services, medical education and tapping the states rich medicinal flora.

He said “I am confident, together with your vast expertise and capacity, we can turn these challenges to opportunities for economic development which is mutually beneficial”.

The minister further sought the support of West Bengal to champion the cause of entire Northeast for equitable socio-economic development.

Reflecting the achievements made by the state’s health department, Azo informed the conference that the state’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has reduced from 26 in 2009 to 23 in 2011, while Institutional Delivery rose from 14% to 35 % in 2011. The number of OPD and IPD has also increased from 7458 and 4002 in 2008 to 852894 and 96856 in 2011, he said.

He also pointed out that the state government has undertaken major initiatives in Public Private Partnerships to tap the much needed resources and technical assistance to ensure adequate health services were available, accessible and affordable to the people.

Recognizing the importance of health, the state government has also passed the “Communitization of Public Institutions and Services Act” in 2001 to devolve management of services including administrative and financial responsibilities to the community and local users through “Local Health Committees”.

Despite the significant development, the minister regretted that gaps were still huge and much more was needed to be done.

Centre mulls PPP to improve health care service in NE
Emphasizing the need have public private partnership (PPP) approach towards health sector in the Northeast, Union minister for development of north east region (DoNER) Paban Singh Ghatowar Sunday said the ministry was ready to assist in all possible ways.

Ghatowar who is in Manipur on a three-day visit said, “My ministry is ready to support private hospitals in the region where healthcare services are poor.”

Talking to reporters during his visit to Sky hospital and Shija hospital, both private run institutions, Ghatowar encouraged state governments to introduce such policy (PPP) to boost health sector.

PPP in health sector is expected to provide care to increasingly aging populations, improve quality and make investment in expensive medical treatment and technology.