Different opinion of organization on Indian Nursing Council’s decision to phase out the General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course
Difference of opinion on phasing out of Nursing Diploma – The Union Health Ministry has decided to phase out the General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) courses by the year 2022, as a step towards the standardization of the nursing qualification at entry level.
It has been declared by the council that the government was phasing out the GNM courses to ensure the quality nursing education. It mentioned that globally countries were moving towards a single entry through a degree programme of nursing and that the National Health Policy 2017 had also envisioned GNM training being phased out by 2022.
An office bearer pointed out that, this move is not in the favor of the girls belong to rural area. These girls can only opt for GNM course because it is much affordable as compare to BSc degree course.
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Moreover, Ashok Kumar, the general secretary of the Rajkiya Nurses Sangh in Lucknow said that, “The complaints are from the people running the GNM courses who have vested an interest. Phasing out the GNMs and the stricter regulation of the nursing education is the way forward.”
It has been mentioned by the critics that, neither the government was counting the extra cost which is required to upgrade a nursing school into a college nor considering the need for more faculty in the nursing colleges.
See: BSc Nursing Entrance Exams
However, MoHWF (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department), regarding discussion on the recommendations of the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, holding a meeting on 7th of February under the chairmanship of deputy secretary in New Delhi in the presence of all State Health Department officials.