JAMMU: Secretary of Health & Medical Education, Bhupinder Kumar, today reviewed the operationalisation of Nursing Colleges in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director (Coordination) of New Medical Colleges, Nursing Colleges and Paramedical Colleges, gave a detailed presentation on the current status of Nursing Colleges, fund utilization, and operational challenges.
He highlighted that 21 ANM/GNM schools were sanctioned in Phase I and Phase-II of the centrally sponsored scheme by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Out of these, 17 are fully operational, and the remaining 04 will be made operational soon. In Phase III, the Union government sanctioned upgradation of 10 ANM/GNM schools into Nursing Colleges, each receiving a financial approval of Rs. 6 crore. Additionally, five Nursing Colleges were sanctioned under PMDP at Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore, Gangyal, and Kishtwar. In 2023, another Nursing College was sanctioned for Handwara by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, under the co-location scheme.
Secretary instructed the Principals of Medical/Nursing Colleges to ensure timely fund utilization for infrastructure development, procurement of machinery/equipment, books and related stuff for starting various courses. He also asked for seamless shifting of the establishment of upgraded GNM schools to the corresponding Nursing Colleges. He directed the Principals of Medical Colleges to expedite the process of hiring under S.O. 364 for the nursing Colleges.
Secretary asked the Principal Medical Colleges to submit proposals for the creation of additional posts in accordance with INC norms and it was decided that the Department would explore the possibility of reorganizing the Nursing Services in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to bring uniformity in the system, besides improvement of services.
Among others, the meeting was attended by all the Principals of Government Medical Colleges, the Director of Finance, the Additional Secretary of Health and Medical Education, the Joint Director of Planning, the Director of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir, the Principal of Government Nursing colleges, Registrar J&K Paramedical Council and other officers from Health and Medical Education department.
