Prof L Emi Humtsoe addressing 12th State Level Conference of TNAI, Nagaland State Branch on September 11. Morung Photo
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 11
Prof. L. Emi Humtsoe, College of Nursing, CIHSR, Dimapur today said that Nagaland has just 1 doctor for every 4,000 people, far below the global standard of 1.5 to 3 per 1000.
She said this during the 12th State Level Conference of Trained Nurses’ Association of India (TNAI), Nagaland State Branch on September 11 at Mount Tabor Retreat House of Diocese of Kohima under the theme “Patient-Centred Care: Enhancing Quality and Safety through Nursing Practice.” This statistic was reported in the Lok Sabha in 2024, in response to an unstarred question, that there were only 166 registered doctors in the state of Nagaland.
With this figure, the shortfall may be as much as only 1 doctor per 13,600 people for a projected population of approximately 2.56 million in Nagaland, Prof Humtsoe said.
She further said that Government hospitals provide 85% of outpatient and 84% of inpatient care in rural areas. Rural families often spend over Rs 10,000 for a single hospital stay, making affordable, safe care non-negotiable, she said.
She said that nursing is not just a job or a service; but a promise of safe, compassionate, patient-centred care. To ensure that patient-centered care, quality, and safety become the hallmarks of nursing practices in Nagaland, Prof. Humtsoe stressed on the need to strengthen continuous training, encourage reflective practice and to promote collaboration between government and private sector nurses through forums like TNAI to share best practices. She also stressed on the need to advocate for policy and support and embrace innovation with compassion
“Sometimes, the best medicine is not in a bottle or a syringe. Sometimes, the best medicine is faith, hope, and a caring nurse,” she said. A patient may forget the medicine, but they will never forget the nurse who cared, comforted, and stood by their side, she added.
Humtsoe said that each nurse holds the power to transform healthcare in Nagaland. “Together, let us recommit ourselves to the noble cause of patient-centred care, ensuring quality and safety at every patient’s bedside and in every corner of our state,” she said.
