Health Ministry to repeal Nursing Act, National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill introduced

New Delhi: To augment the growth and autonomy of the nursing and midwifery profession in the country, the Central government on Monday introduced National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 in Parliament. 

The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill aims to set up the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) and will repeal the Indian Nursing Council Act, of 1947, to streamline nursing education in India.

The major objectives of the commission as per the proposed National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 are to provide for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a Central Register and State Registers and creation of a system to improve access, research and development and adoption of latest scientific advancements. 

Also read- Indian Nursing Council Exempts Puducherry From Conducting Common Entrance Test For BSc Nursing This Year

The present law governing nursing professionals, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) Act was passed in 1947. The Indian National Council is responsible for ensuring the basic nursing educational standards, recognizing nursing qualifications and prescribing entrance requirements and curriculum for nursing courses. On 5th November 2020, the Indian government proposed removing the INC Act and replacing it with the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) Act which proposes a common entrance test, a national register, mandatory registration and a temporary licence for foreign nationals who are qualified nurses and midwives to practice in India. 

Clause 4 of the Bill seeks to provide for the composition of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission, and the appointment and qualifications of its constituent Members. The Commission shall be a twenty-nine-member body comprising of a Chairperson, sixteen ex-officio Members and twelve Members. Of the twelve members, six members, one from each of the six zones, shall be nominated by the State Governments. Four members, of whom at least two should be midwifery professionals, will be nominated by the Central Government on the recommendation of a Search-cum-Selection Committee. One member will be from nonnursing and midwifery background and one member representing charitable institutes in the field of nursing and midwifery, both to be appointed by the Central Government.

Clause 5 of the Bill seeks to provide for the composition of Search-cum-Selection Committee for the appointment of the Chairperson, Members and Secretary of the Commission, and President and Members of the Autonomous Boards under the proposed Act. The Committee shall be chaired by Union Health Secretary and include four experts with experience in the nursing and midwifery field and one from diverse background nominated by the Central Government. Additional Secretary or Joint Secretary in charge of Nursing in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shall be the Convenor Member.

National Nursing and Midwifery Commission may make regulations for the purposes of performing the following functions, namely:

(a) to frame policies and regulate standards for the governance of nursing and midwifery education and training;

(b) to regulate nursing and midwifery institutions, researchers, professionals and associates;

(c) to identify and regulate any other category of nursing and midwifery profession;

(d) to provide basic standards of education, physical and instructional facilities, assessment, examination, training, research, continuing professional education and maximum tuition fee payable in respect of various categories;

(e) to provide standards for nursing and midwifery faculty and clinical facility in teaching institutions;

(f) to provide a uniform mechanism for admission into nursing and midwifery institutions at various levels.

(g) to provide for a mechanism, either through final year undergraduate exam or otherwise, to ensure adequate competence of the nursing and midwifery professionals for enrolment in the National Register or State Register, as the case may be, and for granting licence to practice as a nursing and midwifery professional;

(h) to collaborate with industry and other institutions for the use of cutting-edge technology and hybrid education to drive innovation and research in the field of nursing and midwifery;

(i) to integrate soft skills and elective courses in the curriculum of nursing and midwifery qualifications and to take measures to enhance the skills and competency of registered professionals for facilitating global mobility;

(j) to assess the nursing and midwifery requirements in healthcare, including human resources for various healthcare settings, provide mechanisms for career development pathways for all nursing and midwifery related cadres including appropriate lateral entry as applicable and advise the Central Government on matters pertaining thereto;

(k) to ensure policies and codes to ensure observance of professional ethics in the nursing and midwifery profession and to promote ethical conduct during the provision of care by nursing and midwifery professionals, including nursing associates and midwifery associates;

(l) to promote, coordinate and frame guidelines and lay down policies for the proper functioning of the National Commission, the Autonomous Boards, the Advisory Council and the State Commissions;

(m) to ensure coordination among the Autonomous Boards;

(n) to take such measures, as may be necessary, to ensure compliance with the guidelines framed and regulations made under this Act by the State Commissions for their effective functioning;

(o) to exercise appellate jurisdiction concerning the decisions of Autonomous Boards; and

(p) to perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

Further, the bill mentions that the Central Government shall constitute the following Autonomous Boards, under the overall supervision of the National Commission, to perform the functions assigned to such Boards under this Act.

The three Autonomous Boards are the Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board, the Nursing and Midwifery Assessment and Rating Board and the Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board.

It also addressed the permission for the establishment of new nursing and midwifery institutions, for starting postgraduate or higher qualification courses and to increase the number of seats to be obtained by nursing and midwifery institutions. Recognition of nursing and midwifery qualifications granted by Universities and nursing and midwifery institutions in India and outside India, and also for recognition of nursing and midwifery qualifications granted by statutory and other bodies in India.

The bill also discussed about mechanisms, either through a final year undergraduate examination or otherwise, for enrolment in the National Register or the State Register, as the case may be, and for granting a license to practice as a nursing and midwifery professional. 

To view the bill, click on the link below: