Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said that the State Government was considering enhancing the diet allowance of nurses to Rs. 18 from Rs. 6 per day. He was speaking during the meeting with representatives of the Trained Nurses Association of India, H.P. State Branch.
Health Minister said that training of nursing sisters in Ward Administration would be restored as it would go a long way in enhancing their professional efficiency adding that training of immunization would also be included in nursing training for upgradation of skills. He said that Annual Confidential Report of Nurses would also be made online.
Kaul Singh Thakur said that medical certificate for light duty would now be issued after examination by Medical Board and the surplus staff would be deputed where the posts were lying vacant in the health institutions. He said that the State Government was also considering enhancing the strength cadre of nurses and more posts of nurses would be filled up to provide quality medical care services to the people of the State.
Health Minister asked the nursing staff to come forward voluntarily to serve in rural areas of the State so that qualitative and better health services could be ensured to rural populace. He said that nursing was a noble profession that requires dedication, compassion, love and care to patients and asked them to imbibe these qualities.
Kaul Singh Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh had a vast health infrastructure which was better than the national average and health indices of the State were one of the best in the country adding that the Government was now focussing to strengthen the secondary and tertiary in the State.
Health Minister assured the association that their genuine demands would be considered sympathetically.
Ali Raza Rizvi, Principal Secretary, Health apprised about the benefits being given to the nursing staff and gave various valuable suggestions for further improving the health care services.
Earlier, Jyoti Walia, President, H.P. State Branch of The Trained Nurses Association of India presented a demand charter to the Health Minister and apprised him about their demands. She urged the Health Minister to provide stipend to nursing students, counting of RKS services for regularisation purposes in respect of Staff Nurses appointed under Rogi Kalyan Samitis, providing Grade Pay for Nursing Sisters on the pattern being given to Nursing Sisters in Punjab and to retain the post of Matrons as Non-Selection.
Amitabh Avasthi, MD, National Rural Health Mission, Dr. Jaishree Sharma, Director, Medical Education, Dr. Kulbhushan Sood, Director, Health and Family Welfare Department and representatives of Nursing Association were also present in the meeting.
