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The yearly ‘thank you’ to nurses is not enough

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(Source – Editorial, Page 10, The Hindu Delhi Edition)

Topic: GS Paper 2 (Health), GS Paper 4 (Ethics in Governance)
Context
  • On International Nurses Day (May 12), the editorial critiques India’s systemic under-recognition of nurses and argues for their empowerment through policy reform and leadership roles.
  • 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.
    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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