Nursing education backbone of healthcare system: Chief Secretary

Srinagar, Sep 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Friday chaired a meeting to comprehensively review the quality and standards of nursing education across the Union Territory, emphasizing that nursing forms the backbone of the healthcare delivery system.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Health & Medical Education; Principals of GMC Jammu and Srinagar; Chairperson, J&K Allied & Healthcare Council (A&HCC); Registrar, J&K Nursing Council; Principals of Nursing Colleges, and other senior officers.
During the review, the Chief Secretary took stock of the functioning of newly established Nursing Colleges across districts, including the range of courses offered and the enrolment of students. He directed that diploma-level courses should be progressively upgraded to degree and postgraduate programmes in order to build advanced capacities in the nursing sector.
He further instructed for early completion and operationalization of Nursing Colleges at Sopore, Kulgam, Shopian, and Budgam, besides exploring the feasibility of establishing such colleges at few left out districts. The Chief Secretary also stressed on the need to phase out obsolete courses that do not contribute meaningfully to patient care, and to introduce new courses aligned with emerging healthcare needs.
Highlighting the crucial role of quality teaching, he underscored that only well-qualified faculty should be engaged in these institutions. He called for framing Recruitment Rules for Nursing Colleges, filling up vacancies through recruitment agencies, and creating posts wherever required to ensure that standards of teaching and training remain uncompromised.
Reviewing the functioning of the recently established J&K State Allied & Healthcare Council (SA&HC), the Chief Secretary directed that it be further strengthened with adequate manpower and robust monitoring mechanisms, in line with the National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) guidelines and checklists for institutional readiness.
The Secretary, H&ME, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, while presenting an overview, informed that significant progress has been achieved in nursing education. Over the past year, 360 new B.Sc Nursing seats, 80 Post Basic B.Sc Nursing seats, and 25 M.Sc Nursing seats have been added across colleges in the UT. From the next academic session, Nursing College Jammu will also offer 60 additional Post Basic B.Sc Nursing seats, he added.
It was further revealed that J&K presently has around 50 Nursing Colleges with a total intake capacity of 3,040 seats. In addition, 8 institutions are offering 233 M.Sc Nursing seats, 14 institutions 805 Post Basic B.Sc Nursing seats, while dozens of institutes collectively cater to more than 5,600 GNM, 5,200 FMPHW, and 2,300 MMPHW students across the UT.
Registrar, J&K Nursing Council, Dr. Sandeep Singh, apprised that examinations for 14,738 candidates in paramedical courses had been successfully conducted. He also reported recognition of 28 new Pharmacy institutions with an intake of 1,800 seats in Diploma in Pharmacy, which is now a mandatory qualification for obtaining drug licenses.
Chairperson, J&K A&HCC, Dr. Sabhiya Majid, elaborated on the mandate of the NCAHP Act, 2021, which came into force as per the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions. She explained that the NCAHP and State Councils are responsible for regulation and maintenance of standards in allied and healthcare education and services, assessment of institutions, maintaining central and state registers of professionals, and fostering research and adoption of latest scientific advancements.
She further elucidated that presently, 10 recognized categories spanning 57 professions fall under its ambit, with the scope set to expand in order to uphold the quality, dignity, and recognition of allied healthcare professionals nationwide.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, the Chief Secretary emphasized that strengthening nursing education and allied healthcare systems is pivotal for enhancing patient care, meeting the growing healthcare demands, and creating a skilled workforce to serve the people of J&K.