The yearly ‘thank you’ to nurses is not enough
(Source – Editorial, Page 10, The Hindu Delhi Edition)
| Topic: GS Paper 2 (Health), GS Paper 4 (Ethics in Governance) |
| Context |
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India’s Nursing Paradox:
- Though nurses form 47% of the health workforce, they lack autonomy, policy voice, and leadership.
- India trains world-class nurses for export but fails to utilize their full potential domestically.
Challenges in Nursing Reform:
- Absence of legal framework defining Nurse Practitioner (NP) roles.
- No standard licensure, regulatory recognition, or protected titles.
- Gendered and hierarchical biases restrict nurse autonomy.
International Best Practices:
- Countries like Australia and the U.S. grant NPs diagnostic, prescriptive, and leadership roles.
- Formal legal and career pathways helped elevate the role of nurses in those systems.
India’s Policy Gaps:
- National Health Policy 2017 acknowledged NPs, but slow integration due to lack of legal clarity.
- National Nursing & Midwifery Commission Act 2023 is a step forward, but implementation is weak.
Way Forward:
- Legal recognition and licensure for Nurse Practitioners.
- Close substandard nursing colleges; promote ethics, leadership training.
- Integrate nurses in policy dialogue and leadership.
- Promote team-based care models with collaborative decision-making.
- Though nurses form 47% of the health workforce, they lack autonomy, policy voice, and leadership.
| Practice Question: Despite being the backbone of healthcare, nurses remain under-utilized and undervalued in India. What reforms are needed to mainstream nurse-led care and enhance healthcare outcomes? (15 marks / 250 words) (250 Words /15 marks) |
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