The Eqbal Committee formed by the Kerala Government to study the feasibility of setting up a Medical University in the State, has brought to light the deplorable condition of nursing education in the State. The report was submitted to the Kerala Health Minister and the committee has recommended the government to set right the issue under the proposed university.

According to informed sources, from the government, the issue hovering in the nursing education segment was that there were no well qualified teachers to impart knowledge to the nursing students in Kerala. If this scenario continues then there will a serious shortage of nurses in the country as well as in the State.

They said that, this kind of issue prevailed because after the Bsc nursing course, many candidates left for foreign countries in search of jobs with a good remuneration. Hence there were not many students for pursuing the Msc course in nursing. Thereby the State now is facing a die shortage of teachers to train the students.

The report states that there was an increase in the number of nursing colleges sprouting within the State. The question that's raised by the people in the health sector is why the government is providing permission to set up more number of colleges in the State while the existing colleges are facing a shortage of teachers, sources said.

The shortage had existed in the State for the past few years now, but the scenario is being realized only now because there is an increase in demand for qualified nursing teachers now as lot of colleges had been started now.

Many nurses go abroad to countries like the US and Gulf countries for large pay packets that are offered. But now with Kerala witnessing a growth in the number of hospitals and nursing colleges, the shortage is being felt, said sources.

They state that the Nursing Council of the State was one of the best in the country as there were stringent norms to be followed for setting up a nursing college. They even stress on training for nurses in a hospital environment. But despite all these positive points, the shortage of qualified teachers is proving to be a big problem for the nursing education sector.

It has been informed by sources that nursing colleges in Kerala are even willing to offer Rs1 lakh per annum for principals with 10 to 15 years experience in the nursing education sector. This was the first time the issue has been brought to the notice of the Kerala Health Minister, the sources added.