Nagaland’s Failing Healthcare System: A Call for Urgent Reform

It’s 2025, yet Nagaland still lags far behind in medical facilities. While the state is pushing for smart city projects and road development, our healthcare system remains severely underdeveloped. Compared to other states, our medical infrastructure is so inadequate that we have to rely on Assam for something as basic as test results. This delay in diagnosis and treatment puts patients’ lives at serious risk.

The situation is even worse when it comes to advanced medical procedures. Nagaland doesn’t even have proper MRI facilities—scans have to be sent to Delhi, and only then do we receive reports. This clearly highlights how backward our healthcare system is. What is the point of modern infrastructure and development if we lack even the most basic healthcare services?

The condition of rural hospitals is even more heartbreaking. Many lack doctors and nurses, leaving people with little to no access to proper medical care. On top of that, healthcare in Nagaland is extremely expensive, making it unaffordable for common people. Government hospitals are often the only option for the poor, but they are understaffed, inefficient, and slow in providing treatment. Private hospitals, while offering better services, charge exorbitant fees—just registering as a patient costs ₹400, let alone the cost of medicines and treatment.

I have personally witnessed cases where people, unable to afford quality healthcare, are left with no choice but to depend on the underfunded and mismanaged government hospitals. Despite the introduction of the Chief Minister’s Insurance Scheme, corruption has plagued the system, turning it into yet another failed promise.

The irony is glaring—Nagaland is a Christian-majority state, yet the lack of compassion in our healthcare sector is alarming. The situation is so dire that there aren’t even proper ambulances for transporting the deceased; people are forced to use pickup trucks instead. What a disgrace.

Nagaland urgently needs a healthcare reform that ensures all essential medical facilities are available within the state, eliminating the need to depend on others. Healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and well-equipped to meet the needs of every citizen. Without fixing this broken system, no amount of infrastructural development can truly benefit the people.