India’s healthcare landscape is facing a significant challenge due to the poor nurse-population ratio, exacerbated by the emigration of nurses to other countries in substantial numbers. This issue has been highlighted by doctors and medical experts who have come together to express their concerns over the shortage of nurses in the country.
According to data from the Indian Nursing Council, there are over 33 lakh registered nursing personnel in India. However, this number is deemed inadequate considering the country’s vast population of 1.3 billion. Dr. Girdhar Gyani, the director-general of the Association of Healthcare Providers (India), pointed out that India currently has only 1.96 nurses per 1,000 population, falling short of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended rate of three nurses per 1,000 population.
One of the main causes of this scarcity is the departure of nurses to other nations. The Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals’ director, Dr. Shuchin Bajaj, underlined the necessity of addressing this problem by emphasizing national nursing education. He emphasized the significance of preparing nurses, particularly in view of the rapid advancement of health technology. Dr. Bajaj added that although there are contemporary hospitals and facilities, the difficulties are more severe in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities due to a shortage of healthcare workers with the necessary training. In order to successfully handle these issues, he demanded increased government assistance.
Dr. Gyani underlined the importance of investing in the upskilling of the current workforce in addition to hiring more qualified nurses. He clarified that by giving nurses enhanced training and specialized expertise, the healthcare industry can close staffing gaps, enhance patient care, save money, and develop a workforce of more driven and contented nurses.
Orbis (India) country director Dr. Rishi Raj Borah emphasized the vital role that nurses play in teaching communities about eye health and disease prevention. He underlined that nurses are essential to patient care because of their thorough knowledge and comprehension of healthcare concerns, which allows them to build relationships with patients that go beyond just reviewing medical records.
These experts’ unified declaration emphasizes how urgently coordinated measures to address India’s nursing shortage are needed. In order to address the changing needs of healthcare, this entails not only hiring more nurses but also improving their qualifications. To properly address this issue, the government must play a key role in supporting and fostering settings that are favorable to nursing education and training.
Healthcare organizations gain by investing in the nursing staff, but there are also wider societal benefits as well, such as better healthcare outcomes, lower healthcare expenditures, and a healthier populace. As frontline healthcare workers, nurses are essential to providing high-quality care and advancing community health, which is why India’s healthcare system places a high premium on their education and advancement.
SOURCE:
BUSINESS STANDARD
