Lok Sabha Passes National Nursing And Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023

Lok Sabha passed The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 on Friday, it was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 24. It repeals the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947.

The Bill aims “to provide for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a National Register and State Registers and creation of a system to improve access, research and development and adoption of latest scientific advancement and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”

It also provides for the constitution of the 29 member National Nursing and Midwifery Commission. The Commission will frame policies and regulate standards for nursing and midwifery education, providing a uniform process for admission into nursing and midwifery institutions.

The Commission will also regulate nursing and midwifery institutions to provide standards for faculty in teaching institutions.

According to the Bill, it seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1.The constitution of three Autonomous Boards, namely,

(I) the Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education

Board, to regulate nursing and midwifery education and examination at undergraduate level and postgraduate level and to determine standards;

(II) the Nursing and Midwifery Assessment and Rating Board, to carry out inspections and to assess and rate the nursing and midwifery institutions; and

(III) the Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board, to regulate professional conduct and promote nursing and midwifery ethics amongst all registered professionals and to maintain a national register of nursing professionals, midwifery professionals, nursing associates and midwifery associates.

2.A uniform mechanism for admission into nursing and midwifery institutions at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

3.Permission for establishment of new nursing and midwifery institution, for starting postgraduate or higher qualification course and to increase number of seats to be obtained by nursing and midwifery institutions.

4.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.

5.Maintenance of an online and live National Register containing the name, address, all recognised qualifications possessed by a nursing professional, midwifery professional, nursing associate and midwifery associates.

6.Constitution of a National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Fund for crediting all fees, penalties and charges received by the National Commission and the Autonomous Boards.

Click Here To Read/Download The Bill