KARACHI:Ex-Member of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and Eminent Gynecologist Dr Shershah Syed said winding up Diploma in Nursing (03 years Diploma Program) would prove destructive for nursing profession in Pakistan. He urged the federal authorities to take all stakeholders into confidence before any decision.
He was addressing a joint press conference at Karachi Press Club along with President Private Nursing Institutes Association of Pakistan Qayyum Marwat, Secretary General James Waat, General Secretary Young Nurses Association Sindh Heera Laal and others.
Dr Shershah, who had developed nursing education curriculum in national language, welcomed the plan of federal government to develop nursing education and training on modern lines in the country through introducing Generic Nursing Education Program but he demanded to the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Federal Minister for Health and provisional health ministers to continue Diploma in Nursing (03 years Diploma Program), as well.
He said winding up or closure of the diploma will prove destructive of nursing profession as country lacks infrastructure to introduce Generic Nursing Education Program. He said government is planning to end Diploma in Nursing to benefit some institutions and individuals without taking stakeholders into confidence.
Dr Shershah said Pakistan has been facing acute shortage of skilled nurses and Pakistan Nursing Council had registered only 82,000 nurses since the independence of this country. He said Pakistan needs 1.3million qualified and skilled nurses to overcome the shortage.
President Private Nursing Institutes Association of Pakistan Qayyum Marwat demanded of the federal and provisional governments to continue diploma in nursing program for the sake of nursing profession.
General Secretary Young Nurses Association Sindh Heera Laal, talking to PPI, urged the federal government to review the decision and take all stakeholders over this issue.