India in Need of 4.3 Million Nurses by 2024 to Meet WHO Norms

By: WE Staff | Friday, 3 September 2021

On 2nd September, four nursing and midwifery professional organisations came together to launch a campaign to showcase the importance and role of nurses and midwives in the healthcare sector. The campaign also aimed at reinforcing their contribution towards the country through education, service and leadership.

The organisations behind the #NurseMidWife4Change campaign include the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF), the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), Society of Midwives-India (SOMI) and Indian Nursing Council (INC).

“The #NurseMidwife4Change campaign conceptualised by and for nurses and midwives of India aims to bring to light their true profile, status and contribution in the country by creating awareness about the multiple roles they play as educationists, service providers, specialist and leaders,” said G.K. Khurana, Secretary- General, AIGNF.

“Simultaneously, the campaign will spotlight some of the key issues facing this critical workforce today for example working conditions, remuneration and image in the society and highlight global and national recommendations for the overall growth and development of this professional cadre,” he further added.

The campaign stressed the requirement of implementation of regulations that have been outlined by the Centre and to make better investments in training, education and need the for inclusiveness in decision-making

“A lot of additional positions have to be created and for that the government has prescribed 55 per cent over and above the sanctioned strength that needs to be created,” told T Dileep Kumar, president of INC.

“We are having a shortage of nurses but also many are going abroad because of lack of positions in India. In private sector too there is shortage. So it is actually a shortage of positions, shortage of decent, satisfactory positions available...private sector is paying very low. These factors in the long run are going to discourage people from getting into the profession,” said Roy K George, president of The Nurses association Of India.

Bulbul Sood, Senior Strategic Advisor, Jhpiego India, said there is a need to focus on the adequate number of staff and a managerial position has to be created.