The 38 unrecognized nursing schools in the nation have been listed by the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC), alerting parents and students that degrees from these schools are not officially recognized.

Punjab has the most of these colleges, with 25, followed by Islamabad and Sindh with five apiece, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with two, according to PNMC.

Authorities pointed out that some of these institutions still accept students in spite of several warnings and public announcements that they are unlawful.

The council emphasized that it will not be held accountable for degrees awarded by unauthorized institutions and advised the public to check the standing of any nursing school on its official website prior to applying for enrollment.

In order to guarantee effectiveness, merit, and transparency, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, who presided over a high-level meeting on the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC), announced historic reforms, including the complete digitization of the council's activities.

"We will turn the Pakistan Nursing Council into a cutting-edge, globally renowned organization and rebuild the nursing profession's lost credibility."

Bold reforms will guarantee that our workforce satisfies both national and international standards, as nursing is one of the most important pillars of our healthcare system, Kamal added.

Robust Policies

The government's dedication to bolstering the nursing profession through strong regulations, digitalized systems, and merit-based procedures was reiterated by the minister.

These reforms, according to officials, are intended to safeguard students from dishonest institutions that jeopardize patient safety and the profession's reputation in addition to addressing the enormous staffing shortage.