ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan on Wednesday announced setting up of a committee to consider long-term reform measures, especially to improve nursing education.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, the minister said this committee would give its recommendations within three months. "The federal nursing sector reforms package will strengthen the sector," he said.

He said a large number of posts for nurses were lying vacant at all federal hospitals, including 52 at Pims. He said all vacancies would soon be advertised in the press and vacant posts filled on contractual basis. Simultaneously, reference to Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) would be made as required by law.

The minister said none of the schools of nursing in these hospitals had the post of principal (BS-19) and work was generally being looked after by the chief nursing superintendents (BS-18), who were supposed to pay full attention to hospital care and nursing supervision.

A case for creation of post of principals would be drafted and processed soon, he added. Mr Khan said the schools of nursing at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College and Pims trained 177 and 235 nurses, respectively every year, whereas the Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) trained only 77 nurses, despite the fact that it had the necessary training facilities.

He said the FGSH should enhance its capacity to 150 nurses from next year for which all paperwork would be completed within time. He said a case for revision of nurses' stipends would be taken up immediately to bring these on par with the package being provided to nurses in the provinces. He felt the need to upgrade equipment/provision of vehicles for the schools of nursing.