The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Anbumani Ramadoss today inaugurated the Capital’s first ever college of nursing at the Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC). Affiliated to Delhi University, the college is recognised by the Indian Nursing college.
A training school for nurses was started at LHMC back in 1916, and the services have been upgraded since to a college to improve the quality of nursing services as also to train more graduate nurses.
Fifty students have already enrolled in the first batch of the newly upgraded college of nursing.
“The concept of nursing has expanded over the years and is no longer confined to the hospitals and patient care alone,” Ramadoss said during the inauguration. “Today, nurses are the sheetanchor of our total healthcare delivery system. Our main aim is to provide primary healthcare, including preventive, promotive and rehabilitative services as close to the doorsteps of people as possible.”
The minister said two more nursing colleges, too, are in the offing for the Capital: the nursing schools at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) and Safdarjung hospitals are soon to be revamped and upgraded into colleges. As for his “message” to nurses, Ramadoss said, “They would serve their patient with love and affection.”
Giving due credit to nurses, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was also present at the inauguration, said, “Patients might forget the doctors but they remember the loving and caring hand of a nurse.”
Dikshit also raised concern over the shortage of nursing staff in the country. “Indian nurses are known for their proficiency worldwide, and it is matter of pride for us when we hear that there is a need for Indian nurses (abroad). They are the best in the world but there is a need for them in the country, too, due to the shortage of nurses here.”
Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal said the role of nurses has become highly specialised and upgrading their services is on top of their agenda.
5 lakh
Nurses registered with state nursing councils
97
Nursing schools
BSc-level nursing colleges
97
MSc-level nursing colleges
79,850
Diploma nurses pass out every year
41,650
Graduate nurses