Tamil Nadu gets nod for 11 new nursing colleges

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has received the Centre’s nod to open eleven new nursing colleges, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday.
These colleges, to be built alongside state-run medical colleges, would each receive Rs 10 crore and offer 100 undergraduate nursing seats, he said.
“The state has six government nursing colleges. Elected members have been repeatedly saying that this number is grossly inadequate for the state,” he said.
The state had sought permission from the Centre to start at least 30 new colleges – one each for each of the government medical colleges. Of the total 157 colleges, 27 will be set up in Uttar Pradesh, 23 in Rajasthan, 14 in Madhya Pradesh and 11 each in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
“These colleges will add at least 1,100 more nurses every year,” he said.
The Centre has said that the new colleges are a step towards creating nursing professionals who will cater to both Indian and global markets. The services of Indian nurses are recognised in many countries and these colleges are expected to bring nursing education on a par with global standards.