Question : SHORTAGE OF NURSES

(a) whether there is shortage of nurses in the country, if so, the details thereof indicating the nurse/patient ratio in this regard, State/UT-wise;

(b) the number of diploma/degree schools and colleges and institutes imparting nursing education in the country indicating the number of seats therein, State/UT-wise;

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to open new nursing educational institutions in order to scale up the availability of nurses in the country, location and State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the Government has received a number of proposals from the States/UTs in this regard, if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government thereon during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the other measures being taken by the Government to meet the shortage of nurses in the country?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a): Yes. As per the High Level Expert Group Report 2011 on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for India constituted by Planning Commission it is estimated that service guarantees under UHC will require an increase in the availability of nurses from around 0.90 million in 2011 to 1.7 million by 2017 and 2.7 million by 2022. The nurse-patient ratio varies from state to state, district to district and institution to institution. Further, the ratio varies for different units and shifts according to acuity of care, size and location.

(b): The number of diploma/degree schools and colleges and institutes imparting nursing education in the country is enclosed as Annexure.

(c) & (d): Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Strengthening/upgradation of Nursing Services (ANM/GNM), the Government has approved 127 ANM and 137 GNM Schools to be set up in the country.

(e): Indian Nursing Council has taken a number of proactive measures to meet the shortage of nurses:

(i) Student patient ratio has been relaxed from 1:5 to 1:3

(ii) The land from 5 acres has been relaxed to construct building of 54,000 sq. ft. for School/College of Nursing and Hostel.

(iii) Admission for Nursing allowed for married candidates.

(iv) Maximum of 100 seats will be given to those parent hospitals with 300 beds without insisting Medical College

(v) Distance from school to hospital has been relaxed from 15 km to 30 km

(vi) Eligibility Criteria to admission i.e. (Marks) for Diploma and Degree has been relaxed 5% (GNM - 40%, B.Sc. - 45%).