Kohima: A delegation from Sikkim visited Nagaland on Monday to study the implementation of the Nagaland Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), with the state government expressing interest in adopting elements of the model.
The four-member delegation, on a two-day visit to Nagaland, called on Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima.
As per a government update, the delegation comprised Karma N Bhutia, Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sikkim; Depen Sharma, Special Secretary, Chief Minister’s Office; Dr Subash Tamang, Chief Medical Officer to the Chief Minister; and Tenzing Chopel Bhutia, Staff Officer to the Chief Medical Officer.
During the interaction, Sema outlined the evolution of CMHIS and the challenges faced during its initial implementation, including limited hospital empanelment and inadequate reimbursement rates.
He said the state subsequently revised the scheme, increased reimbursement rates and expanded the network of empanelled hospitals.
More than 70 hospitals across India are currently empanelled under CMHIS, including hospitals in Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati that are frequently accessed by patients from Nagaland, Sema said. Government and private hospitals within Nagaland are also part of the network.
Around 64,000 beneficiaries have been registered under CMHIS, while approximately Rs 252 crore has been paid towards treatment under the scheme over nearly four years, according to Sema.
He said CMHIS had also extended health insurance coverage to a significant number of Nagaland residents who are not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
The combined coverage under CMHIS and PM-JAY, Sema said, has helped expand access to cashless healthcare for people in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Bhutia said Sikkim was keen to learn from Nagaland’s experience in implementing a health insurance scheme that provides cashless treatment to beneficiaries, including outside the state.
He said Nagaland’s experience in addressing challenges related to hospital empanelment, reimbursement and service delivery could offer useful lessons for Sikkim.
According to Bhutia, the decision to study the Nagaland model followed an interaction with Sema at a NITI Aayog meeting on June 12, 2026, where Nagaland’s experience in health insurance and other sectors was discussed.
Following the interaction, the Sikkim government directed its officials to visit Nagaland and examine the implementation of CMHIS, he said.
Bhutia said Sikkim intended to adopt the Nagaland model and sought technical guidance and continued cooperation from the Nagaland government.
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The delegation is scheduled to hold further discussions with officials of the Planning and Health departments and other concerned departments during its visit. It will also visit selected institutions and facilities to study the implementation of CMHIS and other development initiatives.
The visit is aimed at facilitating the exchange of experiences and best practices between the two northeastern states, particularly in the area of healthcare delivery and insurance coverage.
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