Neurosurgery in North East India – A Growing Frontier in Specialized Healthcare

North East India, with its rich diversity and challenging geography, is witnessing a gradual yet important transformation in specialized healthcare. Among the areas seeing significant progress is neurosurgery—a critical field addressing conditions related to the brain, spine, and nervous system.

Increasing cases of stroke, head injuries, tumors, and spinal disorders have made access to neurosurgical care a regional priority. These complex conditions, if left untreated or delayed, can lead to severe disability or even loss of life—especially in remote or underserved areas.

Challenges of Geography and Accessibility

For decades, the region’s remote terrain and limited tertiary care centers meant patients often had to travel to metro cities like Kolkata or Delhi for neurosurgical intervention. This resulted in:

• Significant treatment delays
• Financial and emotional stress on families
• Lack of follow-up care and rehabilitation

Today, the landscape is changing, thanks to the expansion of neurosurgical departments and trained specialists who are bringing care closer to the community.

Building Regional Capacity in Brain and Spine Care

Tertiary hospitals in Guwahati, Shillong, Imphal, and other hubs have developed the capacity to handle both emergency and elective neurosurgical cases. Equipped with advanced imaging tools, ICU facilities, and operating theaters, these hospitals now routinely perform:

• Brain tumor removals
• Spine surgeries for slipped discs and fractures
• Hydrocephalus management
• Stroke and aneurysm treatment
• Congenital pediatric neurosurgery

This progress has not only improved survival rates but also reduced the region’s dependence on outside referral centers.

Expertise Behind the Progress

Much of this development has been made possible through the dedication of neurosurgeons trained in high-volume centers, who have chosen to return and serve the region. One such figure is Dr. Naba J. Borah, currently associated with Health City Hospital, Guwahati. With a career that spans thousands of complex surgeries, he represents a growing group of specialists committed to improving neurosurgical outcomes in the North East.

Previously affiliated with GNRC Hospitals, Dr. Borah’s long-standing contribution to the field—especially in managing trauma and tumor cases—has played a part in shaping the evolving standard of care in Assam and neighboring states. His work highlights how consistent, high-quality neurosurgical practice within the region can directly benefit local populations.

Addressing Regional Needs: From Children to the Elderly

Neurosurgeons in North East India today treat a wide spectrum of conditions:

• Road traffic-related brain injuries in young adults
• Spinal degeneration in older populations
• Neural tube defects and hydrocephalus in infants
• Stroke-related complications across age groups
• Infectious neurological conditions more common in tropical, humid climates

The diversity of cases seen in the region underscores the importance of locally accessible neurosurgical care.

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the progress, several areas require continued focus:

• Improved rural referrals and emergency transport
• Awareness among primary healthcare workers
• Expansion of pediatric and endovascular neurosurgery
• Use of telemedicine for post-operative care and second opinions

With structured investment and policy support, North East India could become a self-reliant hub for advanced neurosurgical care.

Neurosurgery in North East India has evolved from being a distant specialty to an integral part of the region’s medical ecosystem. Through infrastructural advancements and the dedication of regional experts like Dr. Naba J. Borah and others, more lives are being saved—and more patients are receiving timely, effective treatment.

As awareness grows and systems strengthen, the region stands at the cusp of a healthcare transformation, proving that geography need not limit access to world-class care.