Prof Rafath Razia, Dy Director (Nursing), I/c Registrar, Andhra Pradesh Nursing and Medical Council, talks about the challenges and opportunities that the nursing examinees experience. In conversation with Rozelle Laha, ENN

Tell us about the medical education scenario in Andhra Pradesh.
The healthcare sector in Andhra Pradesh was made a III-Tier structure -primary, secondary and tertiary¬- by the then Chief Minister NT Rama Rao in 80s. So the whole Healthcare Department falls under two ministers, one for Medical Education and another under Minister for primary and tertiary care services. Each primary healthcare centre ideally serves 30,000 members of the community. But at most of the places, the situation is different. These centres are supposed to address all healthcare issues concerning maternity and child health. Besides they have to also attend cases that come under the governments National Rural Health Mission like Malaria, HIV and leprosy, and provide day care facilities.In Andhra Pradesh, Dr NTR University of Health Sciences at Vijaywada, affiliates health courses. Currently, there are seven colleges of Nursing in Andhra Pradesh and nine schools of nursing under government and teaching hospitals.On the other hand, there are nearly 400 private schools of nursing which provide General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM) diploma. I have proposed one college of nursing for each medical college. There can be one school of nursing for each district hospitals. Likewise,one multi-purpose health training centres can be set up in each area hospital. Such an initiative can improve balance in the nursing education sector.

Is there any difference in the courses offered by private and government institutions?
Andhra Pradesh follows the same courses that are given by Indian Nursing Council. So program is uniform but the man agement is different. For student, if they get in Government institution, they get stipend and the education and the hostel fee is free and definitely the standard of education or quality of education is better. On the other hand, private institutions need to streamline the education process in line with government to provide quality. The Government College of Nursing provides stipends to students. In the first year they get `1,500 and second year they get `1,700 and third year they get ` 1,900 and fourth year they get `2,000, all through four years. The fee is very nominal and affordable at `1,1500 whereas in private its about one lakh.

What are your views on improving the quality of nursing education?
The Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) training is being looked after by another Directorate. This degree program is under University and administratively it is under Director of Medical Education. We will be better coordinated if there is a nursing directorate and all nursing edu- cational activities and nursing services are encouraged. I hope to see a lot of improvement to include quality improvement whether it is a certificate, diploma and degree and all admissions. The registration process has been digitised from 2005 and we have computerised data of the nurses graduated and registered. In 2005, Catholic Health Association of India has taken up project of CDCP (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention), sponsored by US based international organisation to digitise the whole process.

What is the approximate number of seats in Nursing in Andhra Pradesh?
In National Public Health Week (NPHW), in the ANM programme there are 300 seats. There will be an increase in the number of seats in the future which will encourage the nursing sector. What kind of investments has been done by the Government for the nursing sectors in education? The Government of India proposed to start with seven nursing schools in 85 percent Government of India projects and 15 percent Government of Andhra Pradesh projects. The project includes three ANM Schools and four GNM Schools. For few years, the recruitment has not taken place, even though the vacancies are there. There is a regular recruitment through Nurses Recruitments Exams by regional director in Andhra Pradesh in each zone.

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