Shortage of nurses: govt plans to tap into the Kerala pool

While the total number of beds in government hospitals is 36,000,the permanent posts of nurses are only 4,948 of which 300 are vacant. In other words,one nurse looks after at least seven beds around the clock.

“The ideal ratio is one nurse on three beds which means that for 24 hours service,we would need at least 36,000 nurses. We are planning to recruit around 5,000 to 7,000 nurses this year under NRHM,” said Dr P K Srivastava,Joint Director,National Programme,who was also one of the two members who went to Kerala last month to initiate the process of recruitment.

Another visit of medical officers is scheduled for later this month to advertise about the hiring. The recruitment will be done on the basis of a walk-in interview and the posting under NRHM will be on contract basis for one year,after which the contract will be renewed.

“We are ready to facilitate the state government in arranging walk-in interviews of nurses in some of the districts like Kottayam,Eranakulam and Pathanamthitta,and in any other district as they wish,” said Manoj Joshi,Health Secretary,Kerala.

“We have over 250 nursing colleges in the state and we want our nurses to get jobs. The UP government is ready to pay Rs 15,000 per month under NRHM and is exploring the possibilities of paying Rs 20,000 per month to the nurses. They have better chances of getting nurses on a higher salary,” Joshi added.

Till now,1,075 nurses have been recruited for state medical services under NRHM. In February,the state government had advertised for walk-in interviews of nurses for around 2,200 posts on a contract basis,but could recruit only 400 because of lack of applications.