PNC Decision: Head of Nursing Institute Must be a Nursing Professional, not a Medical Doctor

The Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC), now called Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC), has made two important decisions that are related to appointing heads of nursing institutions from the nursing cadre only.

The first decision, made during the 21st session of the PNC Council Executive Committee in 2016, is that nursing institutions must ensure that their Heads of Nursing Institutions (e.g. Deans, Directors, Principals, etc.) must be from nursing cadre professionals, and not medical doctors or other non-nursing professionals. The committee expressed concern over the appointment of non-nursing professionals in charge of nursing colleges, nursing schools, and public health schools, despite the presence of many qualified nursing professionals in the country.

This decision is in line with the criteria set by the PNC and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which require that nursing diploma and degree programs are supervised by nursing professionals only. The committee pointed out that giving nursing positions to non-nursing cadre people could lead to the deprivation of opportunities for nursing professionals.

The PNC requested that all concerned authorities take immediate action on this matter, and warned that nursing institutions that fail to comply may be derecognized by the PNC.

The second decision was made during a PNC meeting in 2019, where it was decided that heads of Public Health Schools or other institutions should be warned and ensured to be from nursing cadre professionals only. The committee expressed concern that some nursing colleges, nursing schools, and public health schools were still being led by doctors or ex-cadre personnel, despite previous letters issued by the PNC. Again, the PNC and HEC criteria were cited, which require that nursing, midwifery, and LHV diploma and degree programs are supervised by nursing professionals only.

The PNC called on all concerned authorities, including the provincial Secretaries of Health, to take immediate action to ensure that the right people are in the right positions. Copies of the decision were circulated among various authorities for information and action.

These decisions made by the PNC are important for ensuring that nursing education and training in Pakistan are of the highest quality, and that nursing professionals are given the opportunities they deserve. It is hoped that the concerned authorities will take the necessary action to ensure compliance with these decisions, and that the nursing profession in Pakistan will continue to grow and thrive.

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