Huge demand for nurses in health sector: Mufti

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today issued directions for switching over to entrance examination mode for selection of candidates pursuing nursing courses in Bibi Halima College of Nursing & Medical Technology.
He also passed instructions for increasing the intake capacity of the college from 50 to 100 seats so that the requirement of paramedic staff in health institutions is addressed.
The chief minister, who is also the Chairman of Waqf Board, passed the directions while reviewing functioning of Waqf institutions in the state.
The chief minister also favoured a revision in fee structure of the college for making the institution self-sustaining.

"There is a huge demand for nurses in the health sector both within and outside the country. We have an available market in the Middle East, especially Saudia Arabia, where our trained nurses can be gainfully employed," the Chief Minister said.
The chief minister asked Vice Chairman Waqf Board to take up with University of Kashmir the issue of switching over to Entrance Mode for selection of candidates in the Bibi Halima College. Presently, the students are being admitted on the basis of merit achieved in 10+2 examinations.

Expressing concern over the absence of a Nursing Registration Council, whose certification is a prerequisite for seeking jobs outside the state and abroad, Mufti issued immediate directions for taking up the matter with the University of Kashmir so that the Council is constituted at an earliest.

He also said that there was a need for establishing nursing colleges at several other places to cater to the requirement of health institutions at local levels, where acute shortage of paramedic staff is witnessed.
He also asked VC Waqf Board to process the case for enhancing the discretionary powers of the Principals of the Waqf institutions to utilise the local funds available with them.