The admission process for nursing colleges in Punjab will now be centralized, much like it is for the government-run medical and dental institutions in the region, in an effort to guarantee uniformity and standardization.
Candidates for the 4-year BSc Nursing Programme must submit their applications online through a portal under the direction of the University of Health Sciences (UHS), which will also oversee the admissions procedure.
The interim health minister for Punjab, Professor Javed Akram, presided over a special meeting among the UHS Board of Studies in Nursing, where this decision was made.
The decision to centralize nursing admissions was made by all of the attendees during the meeting. The Director General of Nursing, the Vice-Chancellors of all medical universities, and the Secretary of SHCI will make up the Admission Committee. The Secretary will serve as the committee’s chair. In September, the admissions advertisement for the BSc in Nursing program will be released.
The initial merit list will be revealed in December after the completion of the candidate’s online registration in October. The start of classes at nursing colleges is scheduled for March. The new rule will take effect beginning with the academic year 2023–2024. A committee of experts has also been assembled to make recommendations for curriculum reforms; these are anticipated within a month.
Another important decision was made at the meeting to launch Punjab’s first nursing journal with the intention of advancing academic study in the area. In order to advance nurses’ professional development, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) in Lahore also announced its intentions to provide 3 and 6-month short courses in English language, IT, and interpersonal skills. To make this collaboration possible, WCCI and UHS will sign a formal contract.
Prof. Javed Akram, the provincial health minister, spoke to the group and emphasized the changes being made to the nursing curriculum in Punjab. Additionally, he stated that nursing college professors would be sent to the UK to pursue doctoral degrees in order to advance their knowledge and help the field of nursing.
