Guwahati, 06 October (HS): Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Tuesday launched a structured training programme aimed at enhancing the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities of nurses across the state. The programme was inaugurated at the auditorium of the CN Centre at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

The initiative has been undertaken by the Directorate of Medical Education, Assam, in collaboration with the Assam Health Infrastructure Development and Management Society. Standard Operating Procedures, a training action plan and a training booklet prepared for nurses were also formally released during the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Singhal described nurses as one of the key pillars of the healthcare delivery system and stressed the need for continuous skill development. He said quality healthcare cannot be ensured without trained nursing personnel capable of providing safe, efficient and compassionate care.

Under the new initiative, nurses across the state will undergo regular and planned training covering modern healthcare practices, patient safety, quality of services and professional responsibilities. The training booklet will also help systematically track the training and skill-development progress of individual nurses.

The minister further stressed the need to create an environment of healthy competition and adoption of best practices among healthcare institutions. He proposed selecting and recognising a “Best Nurse” every month in each health institution based on work efficiency, service standards and commitment towards patients.

Singhal also called for identifying successful “best practices” adopted by individual health institutions and replicating them in other facilities across the state.

Highlighting another achievement in the public healthcare sector, the minister said Assam has secured the second position in the country in the availability of essential medicines. The ranking was based on the state rankings displayed on the DVDMS Central Dashboard of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which assesses the availability of essential medicines in public health institutions.

Director of Medical Education Prof. Dr Manoj Kumar Choudhury, senior officer Pranab Sharma, Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences Registrar Dr Sujit Bardhan, GMCH Superintendent Dr Babul Bezbaruah and superintendents of medical colleges across the state were among those present at the programme.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash