PANAJI
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said a file had been moved to scrap posts that were filled for nurses by GMC and instead revert it back to the Nursing Institute.
Making the announcement at the celebration of International Nurses Day, Rane said the nursing institute was well equipped to conduct its own selection process, thus scrapping the GMC involvement. He also added that nurses on contract would be absorbed into the permanent work force and would begin the process to revive 150 nursing posts.
“Nursing is a technical subject and the institute is well equipped to conduct its own exams including practical tests. I will start a government proposal so that the teachers at the nursing college will have an examination of their own as well as a module to select nurses in the health department. We will also revive the posts of 150 posts that had been scrapped,” he said.
As for nurses on contract basis, it has been found that there were many that had put in over two decades of work with the department but haven’t been given a permanent post. “They’ve been working for so many years so we have to devise a way by which the government will have to have an examination but will also have to accommodate these people who’ve been working on contract basis,” said Rane.
He spoke on the need to work in a transparent fashion adding that there was a lot to do with the health department in the state. As far as recruitment goes, Rane also said that there would be no favoritism and biased choice of people for the post.
“Last week there was one woman that came to me saying someone had offered her a government job if she gave Rs 5 lakh. Recruitment should be based on your qualifications and experience. Justice should and will be done for the nurses and recruitment,” he assured.
Specialised courses would also be introduced to students of BSc Nursing especially in cardiology and neo natal care. “I will move a note for setting up of specialization courses in neo natal and cardio after a person completes their nursing degree. In the new hospital coming in South Goa, we will make sure the specialized modules are introduced at the beginning itself,” said Rane so that nurses being generated in the state are of the type that have skills that could be exported to other states and countries.
He added that an institute along the lines of Bambolim one would also be started at District Hospital to be completed in Margao and will generate close to 150 more nurses every year. At the existing Bambolim institute, Rane said several jobs including maintenance and proper landscaping would be taken up.
