ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: The government has decided to develop a five-year nursing sector plan. In this regard, a task force has been formed under the chairmanship of nursing adviser and the provincial nursing leaders as members. It has to complete its task within eight weeks.

The decision was taken at a meeting held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of minister of state for health Shahnaz Shaikh, and attended by secretary health Anwar Mehmood, director- general health and nursing leaders from all provinces and federal government.

Later, Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan also attended the meeting, which took stock of factors impeding the growth of nursing profession and discussed the plan of action to address the issues.

Nursing adviser Shaheen Masud made a presentation on the achievements of the last one year and recommended the future plan of action.

The plan of action would address improvement in infrastructure, competency of faculty, standard and quality of education, methodology for increasing the number of nurses, filling of vacant posts, introducing double shifts in schools of nursing, expanding role in the community, uniform stipends for student nurses, special area allowance and rationalizing the nursing career structure at all levels.

In view of the urgent need for upscaling the libraries of the schools and colleges of nursing, the state minister announced a personal donation of Rs2 million for establishing a central library. The library will be linked up with all nursing training institutes and examination boards.

Arrangements will also be made to train nursing teachers at the Aga Khan University, Karachi.

The secretary health said budget for colleges and schools of nursing at federal level should immediately be separated from the hospital management, and administrative powers should be given to the college principals.