Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Legislative body of the Lower House of Parliament on Friday recommended that a proper service structure and promotion policy must be devised for the nursing staff. Nursing was an important profession and they should be facilitated so that they could perform their duties honestly. The committee held its meeting today in parliament house while Khalid Hussain Magsi was on chair. The committee consider the medical consultancy and other services (rationalisation of fees) Bill 2016, and the briefing on Pakistan Nursing and Pharmacy Council.

A detailed briefing was given on Pakistan Nursing Council and the mechanism of registration. Moreover, the importance of an online registration facility for the registration of nurses was stressed. The suboffices of the Nursing Council might be established on provincial level. The committee was informed that the first Nursing University was going to be established in Islamabad with the collaboration of the Bahrain Government. Moreover, the strategic plan 2021 for Pakistan Nursing Council and Vision 2025 were also in progress.

Briefing the committee on reforms in the nursing profession, Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar said under the policy of merit and transparency, it was the first time in the history of the country that a PhD nurse had been appointed as President of the Nursing Council. She said this measure had borne fruit since the new President was able to implement the government’s reform agenda. The Minister informed that Registration Cards issuing system had been improved. Normal cases were being finalised within two weeks instead of three months and urgent Registration Cards were being handed over on the same day instead of two weeks. The backlog had been completely eliminated.

Online Registration System had been launched for the first time. Efforts were also in progress to raise more awareness for the nursing professionals for Online Registration. Facilities like free shuttle service from PNC to main road, air-conditioned waiting rooms, separate bathrooms for ladies and men, mineral water and free photocopying facilities had been arranged for the comfort of the PNC visitors.

The committee suggested formation of a HUB office at provincial level to deal the registration cases, competency based curriculum at bachelor and masters level, improving of service career structure for nursing and workforce planning. While giving a briefing on Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP), it was revealed that several new initiatives had been taken to strengthen the PCP.