Solution

In order to strengthen the nursing workforce in the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, has approved the establishment of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing medical colleges established since 2014 with a total financial implication of Rs.1570 crore. The step will add approximately 15,700 nursing graduates every year. This will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in underserved districts and States/Union Territories.    The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalances in the healthcare sector, which have led to the distortion of the availability of nursing professionals and impacted healthcare services in underserved areas.     The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of qualified human resources in healthcare. This is also being done as a part of the national mandate for Universal Health Care (UHC) and will help in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).