By: Shabir Hussain Jhatial The physical and online congregation of nursing midwifery leaders from both private and public sector gathered to propose amendments as solution for PNMC Crisis and to thawrt subsequent Merger Plan that is still on cards.  This extraordinary meeting was astutely chaired by Prof. Dr. Raisa Gul and Co Chaired by DGN Punjab Madam Tahira Sagir attended by Nursing- Midwifery leaders across Pakistan including Brigadier Humera of AFNS. The minutes were recorded by Ms. Lubna and Mr. Asif Iqbal. Following provisions were identified that needed amendment within parameters of the national policy framework for statuary bodies. Discussion was inconclusive that would be completed on Zoom Meeting on this Saturday. 1. The Preamble. 2. The Terms/ Definitions 3. Number of the Members (Not more than 19) 4. Ex. Officio Members DGNs). 5. The representation from Federations / Associations e.g PNF, PYNF & MAP et) 6. Method of Appointment (Election and Selecion Criteri...

Attention All Nursing Professionals On October 21, 2024, the Pakistan Nurses Federation (PNF) held a pivotal meeting in Islamabad to address the pressing issue of the proposed merger of the Allied Health Professional Council (AHPC) into the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PN&MC). The meeting was chaired by Ms. Nighat Durrani, President of PNF, and co-chaired by Dr. Raisa Gul, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University. Nursing leaders and representatives from various regions across the country convened to strategize and unify their stance against the merger. Key Decisions from the Meeting.  1. Intensified Advocacy Efforts.  PNF has resolved to amplify its advocacy by engaging with political leaders and influential bureaucrats who can impact the decision regarding the council's merger. A delegation is scheduled to meet the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health to discuss concerns and present the collective viewpoint of the nursin...

پاکستان میں نرسنگ اور مڈوائفری کے پیشوں پر اثر انداز ہونے والا ایک اہم مسئلہ سامنے آ رہا ہے۔ وفاقی حکومت نے پاکستان نرسنگ اینڈ مڈوائفری کونسل (PNMC) کو ایلائیڈ ہیلتھ پروفیشنل کونسل (AHPC) کے ساتھ ضم کرنے کی تجویز دی ہے، جو ایک رائٹ سائزنگ اقدام کا حصہ ہے۔ اس تجویز نے ملک بھر میں نرسنگ اور مڈوائفری کے پیشہ ور افراد کے درمیان سنگین خدشات پیدا کر دیے ہیں۔ مسئلہ کیا ہے؟ PNMC پاکستان میں نرسنگ اور مڈوائفری کی تعلیم، پریکٹس، اور لائسنسنگ کی نگرانی کرنے والا قانونی ریگولیٹری ادارہ ہے۔ یہ آزادانہ طور پر کام کرتا ہے، اور اپنی آمدنی خود پیدا کرتا ہے، اس لیے یہ حکومت کے بجٹ پر بوجھ نہیں بنتا۔ دوسری طرف، AHPC اتحادی صحت کے پیشہ ور افراد کو منظم کرتا ہے، جو مختلف ذمہ داریاں اور ریگولیٹری ضروریات رکھتے ہیں۔ حکومت کی تجویز ہے کہ ان دونوں کونسلوں کو ضم کر کے آپریشنز کو آسان بنایا جائے اور اضافی انتظامی ڈھانچے کو کم کیا جائے۔ تاہم، یہ اقدام نرسنگ اور مڈوائفری کے رہنماؤں، تنظیموں، اور ملک بھر کے پیشہ ور افراد کی شدید مخالفت کا سامنا کر رہا ہے۔ نرسز کیوں فکرمند ہیں؟ پیشہ ورانہ شناخت اور خود م...

An important development is unfolding that could significantly impact our nursing and midwifery professions in Pakistan. The federal government has proposed merging the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) with the Allied Health Professional Council (AHPC) as part of a rightsizing initiative. This proposal has raised serious concerns among nursing and midwifery professionals nationwide.   What Is the Issue?   The PNMC is the statutory regulatory body overseeing nursing and midwifery education, practice, and licensure in Pakistan. It operates independently, funded through self-generated revenues, and does not burden the government's budget. The AHPC regulates allied health professionals, a group with distinct roles and regulatory needs. The government's proposal aims to merge these two councils to streamline operations and reduce perceived redundancies. However, this move has been met with strong opposition from nursing and midwifery leaders, associations, and pr...

Provincial Association Sindh/Pakistan Nurses Federation and Leaders of Nursing and Midwifery Pakistan Conduct Urgent Meeting October 18, 2024 12 :00MD  At College of Nursing Dr. Ruth KM Pfaue Civil Hospital Karachi  The Provincial Association Sindh/Pakistan Nurses Federation and Leaders of Nursing and Midwifery Pakistan convened an emergency meeting today to address the proposed merger between the Allied Health Professionals Council and the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC). The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Mr. Rizwan, President of PNA Karachi Division.   Attendees: - Mr. Ghulam Dastagir Odhano, President PNA Sindh - Ms. Afshan Nazly, General Secretary Pakistan Nursing Federation - Prof. Rozina Karmaliani, Patron PNA Sindh - Prof. Salima Walani, Dean AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery - Ms. Khair-Un-Nisa, General Secretary PNA Sindh - Dr. Sumaira Khowaja, Senior Vice President PNA Sindh - Ms. Zubaida Bhutto, General Secreta...

by Shabbir Hussain Jhatial  n continuation of the MoNHR&C Consultative Meeting on the Policy Framework for Reforms in PN&MC held on the 8th-9th of this month, the Director of Nursing Sindh invited Public and Private Sector Stakeholders to prepare a document before the meeting scheduled on 23/10/24 with MoNHSRC officers set to visit Sindh.   It is important to underline that these recommendations are strictly for the Exclusive PNMC ACT and are not intended for any merger.   1. Governance in PNMC:  (i) The President & Vice President must be elected by PNMC Members as originally outlined in the 1973 Constitution, not nominated as per the current amended PNMC ACT, which is considered faulty.   (ii) The number of members should be at least 20, not 11 as per the current ACT. This should include 4 Midwives/LHVs and 4 Academicians, who must be elected by their respective constituencies. (ii-b) The 4+1+1 members from provinces (ICT & GB) ...

BS Nursing Students Hold Gender Sensitization Seminar with Transgender Leaders as Guest Speakers in Rufaida CON Hamdard University. Rufayda Hamdard College of Nursing (R-HCN) organized a unique Academic Session on Seminar Theme “Humanity has no Gender” in connection to BSN's Course Culture Health & Society in collaboration with Hamdard Foundation where renowned Transgender Leaders Ms. Zehrish Khanzadi, Program Manager of Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA) & Ms. Bindiya Rana, Executive Director GIA, were the guest speakers of the day. Beginning with the introduction of the speakers and activists, the Principal R-CON and, a Ph D Scholar Ms. Alia Nasir briefed students about:  (i) gender sensitization and the role of nurses, (ii) the definition of gender and sex, and (iii) gender identity vs biological sex.  The Vice Principal Ms. Fahmeda Khwaja followed with presentation on this sensitive social issue in context with the Course and the sad reality of discrimination w...

by Shabbir Hussain Jhatial  Honorable Madam Minister   اسلام علیکم ! With reference to tagged news item linked to your views on PNMC mayhem and its solution , I humbly put my observations in good faith and in enhancement of better quality of the nursing workforce for which your good offices have been striving for. In this context I as a privy to PNMC,  submit my sincere observations to substantiate the expressed point of view about its decentralization. Hon.  Madam ! As per my understanding, the existing legal and procedural pisition, this is desirable and feasible possible if provincial governments convince the Federal Government to decentralize the Council to provinces in the wake of rightsizing policy of the Federal Government. Since statuary Councils are in concurrent list and to decentralize it, the consent of central government seems mandatory. In the background of utter failures of PNMC functioning according to its statuary mandate, the MoNHSR&C and some I...