Soon Lateral Entry Option for Nurses in MBBS Course
Nurses are expected to get admission in 2nd-year MBBS course through Lateral Entry as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sent a proposal for lateral entry in MBBS for graduates in AYUSH, Nursing, and BDS.
The Government of India is expected to take a significant decision soon. Nurses are expected to get admission in 2nd-year MBBS course through Lateral Entry. Even though the final decision in this regard is not yet taken, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has put down a proposal to provide lateral entry admission in the MBBS course for graduates in Nursing, AYUSH, and BDS.
As per the Draft National Educational Policy 2019, the medical education qualification framework to get lateral entry into MBBS will be developed in accordance with the National Medical Commission, which will regulate medical practice and education. To empower nurses and reduce the gap between demand and supply of doctors, the Ministry will also raise the concept of nurse practitioners by starting courses so they can compensate for the unavailability of doctors. Nurse practitioners will be able to look at patients, examine them, offer treatment and prescribe medicines just how physicians do.
The Education Policy also mentions the need for creating professional development pathways for nurses who have different levels of qualifications. Continuing Nursing Education and renewing the license guidelines will be done by the Indian Nursing Council for all nurses, including the faculty in nursing education. There is a proposal to also create an Indian Nurses Registry.
Also Read: Indian Medical Association to Set Up Counselling Centres in Medical Colleges
To bring about improvements in the quality of nursing education, the Health Policy suggested the formation of a National Accreditation Body for nursing education and issue nursing college accreditation for five years, which will be renewed after going through inspections.
In addition to the nursing graduates, the Education Policy also mentioned the need to bring Indian medicine AYUSH practitioners to the mainstream. Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), AYUSH physicians will be appointed in primary health centres and community health centres.
Also Read: List of Medical Courses in India After 12th: Entrance Exam and Fees