President Pranab Mukherjee presents Florence Nightingale Awards to 35 nurses

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over poor ratio of nurses as compared to the global level, President Pranab Mukherjee today said there is a need for greater focus on education and training of nursing personnel.

Conferring the National Florence Nightingale Awards to 35 nurses from across the country, Mukherjee said as a key constituent of the workforce of our country, nurses are an "invaluable asset".

"While serving in challenging conditions abroad, they have brought credit to our nation and contributed significantly through their remittances. Through their disciplined attitude and high level of proficiency, they have earned tremendous goodwill in all parts of the world," he said.

Mukherjee said it is well known that nurses are the largest workforce in the healthcare industry in India.

"If they are properly trained and strategically positioned, they can help develop quality health care, strengthen healthcare systems and work effectively in interdisciplinary teams," he said.

The President said nurses have an important contribution to make in planning and decision-making for the development of an appropriate and effective health policy for India, improving efficiency in public health programmes and reducing cost and wastage.

"There is also a need for greater focus on education and training of the nursing personnel. Under the 12th Five Year Plan, a budget of Rs 2,150 crore has been allocated to the programmes and schemes for the improvement of nursing services in India," he said.