Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has made entry test compulsory for admission to nursing schools across the province.

The test would be conducted through the National Testing Service (NTS). Upper age limit has also been enhanced from 20 to 25 years to induct more candidates to meet shortage of health support staff in public hospitals.

Well-placed sources privy to the development said that a meeting was held under the chairmanship of additional secretary (Admin) regarding the admission test in class of general nursing and midwifery course in Punjab. Punjab nursing director general, deputy secretary general and section officer participated in this meeting.

He said that it was discussed in detail that admission test for nursing schools falling under the department would be taken by the NTS. It is pertinent to mention that currently there is no entry test for admission to nursing courses. So, it was decided that entry test would be conducted across Punjab. The NTS will share merit lists of passed candidates for further processing by the department. All participants agreed to this proposal.

It was discussed and decided in the meeting that all seats would be filled on open merit basis without any quota. Prior to this there was 30 percent seats fixed for open merit and 65 percent seats for those who were living in concerned district’s domicile holder. While three percent was allocated for midwives or lady health visitors (LHVs)

About the qualification criteria, first preference will be given to candidates having FSc pre-medical with 50% marks of total aggregate numbers along with matric with science and having 55 percent marks in science subjects i.e. physics, chemistry and biology. While second preference will be given to those candidates having matric in science with 55 percent marks in aggregate as well as 55 percent marks in science subjects i.e. physics, chemistry and biology. It is compulsory that candidate should be unmarried. Upper age limit for admission has been enhanced from 20 to 25 years for general candidates and up to 35 years for widow/ divorced.

In another letter written to all health EDOs, the department has asked them to provide number of seats allocated for admission in diploma of general nursing at school of nursing of their district concerned. A centralised advertisement will be published by the department for admissions in this regard.