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“Overcome shortage of nurses”

— Photo: V. Sudershan

LEADING KINDLY LIGHT: Alamelu Venketaraman receiving the National Florence Nightingale Award for Nursing Personnel from President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Appreciating the role of nurses in the healthcare system, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has called for bridging the gap between the existing and required number of nurses in the country.

Speaking after presenting the National Florence Nightingale Awards here on Monday to mark the International Nurses Day, Ms. Patil said it was a matter of pride that the quality and commitment of Indian nurses was getting recognition. They are in high demand in India and the world but there exists an acute shortage. There are about 3.7 lakh nurses in India while the requirement is about 10.5 lakh nurses by 2012. “Serious consideration needs to be given as to how to close this gap. More nursing colleges should be established,” she said.

Describing gentleness, compassion and sensitivity as the innate qualities of a woman as a result of which she dominated the nursing profession, Ms. Patil said that apart from general nursing there should be an attempt to specialise in at least one branch. Training institutions should also conduct skill upgrading courses for working nurses. This is important because speciality hospitals are coming up in the country where a growing number of patients from overseas are coming for treatment, she said.

She said nurses deserved to be treated with respect and issues relating to their working conditions and welfare measures should receive sympathetic consideration.

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