Islamabad, The Sub Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, chaired by Senator Rubina Khalid, met today at Parliament House to scrutinize the operations of institutions affiliated with the Pakistan Nursing Council. The meeting’s primary agenda was to address issues related to fraudulent nursing degrees and certificates and to enhance the standards of nursing education in Pakistan.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee expressed concerns about the absence of the Secretary and Health Minister at the meeting. It was informed that the minimum clinical hours for nursing students have been increased, a decision that the subcommittee commended. Senator Rubina Khalid brought attention to the accreditation of nursing education institutions that fail to meet required criteria. She directed the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council to identify officials responsible for licensing these non-compliant colleges and recommended an FIA inquiry into the matter.
The committee proposed several measures to improve nursing education and ethics in Pakistan. These included revising the nursing education curriculum, training sessions for inspectors, and ensuring that every nursing college is affiliated with a hospital having at least 250 beds. The meeting also welcomed the appointment of the new president of the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council, expressing support for their efforts to resolve pending issues and elevate nursing standards.
Furthermore, the committee addressed the challenges faced by MSN-qualified nurses with degrees obtained through online study from foreign institutions, which are not recognized by the Council and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The committee urged both entities to work together to resolve these recognition issues.
The meeting saw the attendance of Senator Prof Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani, officials from the Ministry of Health, and representatives from the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC), underscoring the collective effort to advance the quality of nursing education and practice in Pakistan.