Kamal vows nursing reforms, better pay and training

ISLAMABAD, Oct 13 (APP): Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday pledged comprehensive reforms in the nursing sector, with improved salaries, professional training and accountability.

Addressing a certificate distribution ceremony marking the completion of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course for nurses at the MCH Auditorium, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), he said nursing was a noble profession and deserved greater recognition for its vital contribution to healthcare.

He said that the government would make Islamabad’s nursing system a model for the rest of the country.

The minister said the healthcare system could not function effectively without qualified and well-trained nurses, regretting that the nursing profession had not received the importance it deserved.

He said the training of 50 nurses was a first step towards improving professional standards and that nurses from all federal hospitals would be trained in the future.

Mustafa Kamal said the government would also work to improve nurses’ salaries and other service-related matters, adding that nursing education and professional development were essential for strengthening healthcare delivery.

Highlighting reforms in the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council, he said measures had been taken to improve governance and curb corruption in the regulatory system. He alleged that nursing colleges had previously obtained licences through payments and said the reforms were intended to ensure transparency and accountability.

He said no institution, including the nursing council, would be allowed to become a tool for vested interests, adding that those found involved in wrongdoing would be held accountable.

The minister stressed that nursing colleges should serve as centres of quality education rather than commercial ventures, and called for greater attention to professional standards and training.

He said Pakistan needed to expand its nursing workforce to meet domestic and international healthcare requirements, adding that improvements in regulation and education could help create more opportunities for qualified Pakistani nurses.

Commenting on reforms at PIMS, Mustafa Kamal said comprehensive measures were being introduced following the recent crisis at the hospital.

He assured existing employees that the new system would not affect their current positions, while future recruitment would be made on a contract basis.

He said the proposed governance system would empower the PIMS Board to exercise disciplinary and accountability powers, adding that the government was working to establish an efficient and transparent administrative structure at the hospital.

The minister announced that the Polyclinic-II project would be completed within a year, with fire safety and other essential facilities incorporated into the development plan.

He said political disagreements were part of democratic life but should not come at the expense of national stability and state institutions.