Dimapur, March 01: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio formally handed over State�s only Referral Hospital Dimapur to CMC, Vellore and EHA in a �Handing over Ceremony� program held here in the premises of the hospital today.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said henceforth the Referral Hospital Dimapur would be called as �Christian Institute of Health Science and Research (CIHSR) with the CMC, Vellore and EHA managing its affairs.

Rio recalled how the idea of having the Referral Hospital Dimapur was conceived some two decades back and the project started.

However, the cost of the project kept escalating and finally a time came when the State could no further afford to pour in money to the project and the work came to a halt.

�It was then felt that it would be best to handover this project to a well qualified renowned agency which could revive and revitalize the project,� he said.

Rio further disclosed that several offers came from various firms such as Apollo Group, Manipal Group and the CMC/EHA combine.

But after evaluating the bids of each of the three groups, it was felt that the offer of �EHA/CMC combine was most cost-effective and suitable to our requirements in our State,� the Chief Minister explained.

Although the stage for handing over the Hospital to the new management was set following the singing of MoUs in January 2005 and May 2005, there had been setback when the NDA went to Court and filed PIL as well as the problems of clearance of the liabilities to contractors.

�The PIL however, was dismissed by the Hon�ble High Court and the contractors too have kindly come forward to accommodate and bear with us for some more time for the settlement of their dues,� the Chief Minister informed.

Rio hoped that with the birth of the new hospital here, the people would now lighten their unimaginable burdens, which they have been normally undergoing while going for treatment to places like Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Vellore.

He was further confident that with the start of the Hospital, State�s around 150 unemployed doctors, about 50 unemployed Dentists and more than 300 unemployed nurses would find �gainful employment�.

He also said the project, as seen, was indeed a �novel initiative as it brings together the institutions of excellence, non-profit agencies of development and the Government in a unique Public-Private Partnership.� �It is for the first time that we, in our State, are experimenting with such a coming together of hands and minds,� he asserted, adding that it would mark the beginning of �newer business and development models.� Expressing his happiness that the new management would start operationalizing the OPD soon and then upgrading it in phase-wise manner till subsequently making it medical and nursing colleges, the Chief Minister urged all of the people involved in the project to �dedicate themselves to this task with commitment and zeal, so that their long awaited dreams can be transformed to reality.� Rio also appreciated those NGOs and civil societies who all along supported the Government and also church groups for fully backing and praying for the success of the venture.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr TM Lotha also spoke on the occasion.

He said in spite of sending Rs 82 crore for the Referral Hospital Dimapur, yet this project could not be functional.

�It was almost abandoned,� he stated.

Stating that the idea of reviving and revitalizing the project came up when the DAN Government came to power three years back, Dr Lotha said, adding, Chief Minister Rio was one of the prime movers for revitalizing the projects as it concerned �our people.� Although the Court quashed the PIL of the Nagaland Doctors Association (NDA), Dr Lotha expressed unhappiness on the manner in which some members of Association filed the PIL against the Government�s �Tripartite Agreement with CMC and EHA.� He said they had wasted about 7/8 months due to NDA�s PIL, although the Court quashed it later.

Dr Lotha also hoped that the new management would live up to the expectation of the Naga people and told them that the people and the Government were fully behind them.

He also appreciated Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers Association and other NGOs and more specially the NBCC for their support and pray for the success of the hospital.

Dr PK John, from CMC and Dr Sidney Thyle from EHA and New State Chief Secretary Lahuma also spoke on the occasion.

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