400 new posts for nurses created: Health Ministry
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Ministry of health has decided that four hundred new posts of nurses will be created over the present and next financial years to provide employment to nursing students passing the examination.
This was decided in a high level meeting held here on Thursday to discuss the problems of Nursing Sector under the chairman of Minister of Health Ejaz Rahim. The meeting was attended by Secretary Health, Khurshid Akhtar Lashari, Director General Health Dr Shahid Malik, Chief NHPU, Dr Mushtaq A Khan, Chief Health, Dr Iftikhar, DG (implementation) FCTC Shaheen Masood, DDG (MER), Registrar, PNC, Mrs Nighat Ejaz Durrani.
A detailed discussion on the strategic issues pertaining to the Nursing Sector took place. It was decided that the highly trained nurses who complete their Specialization Diplomas and Post-graduation will receive due place in the Recruitment and Promotion Rules.
A model will be created in the federal hospitals under the Ministry of Health for this purpose.
Secondly, the meeting took note of the President’s Directive to provide scholarships in the Nursing Sector. It was decide to move a summary to the Finance Division for implementation of the President’s Directive on Scholarship of Nurses. It was also decided that nursing matters in the Federal Government will be placed under an upgraded unit headed by competent Nursing Advisor. If a suitable candidate is not available, open advertisement will be placed in the media for a highly qualified Nursing Advisor.
The meeting decided that hands-on experience of nurses in teaching hospitals must be ensured. The minister referred to complaints that nursing students were receiving sufficient opportunities of actual delivery cases in Labour Rooms. This situation must be looked into effectively.
The meeting resolved that necessary changes in the Pakistan Nursing Council Act may be finalized by the committee headed by Chief Health in the Ministry of Health within two weeks.
An important amendment is to give due importance to nurses, paramedics and health technicians in the proposed legislation. Measures should also be taken to upgrade examination system in the sectors.