- As many as many 29 remain operational, 27 more in pipeline
- Gross irregularities detected in PNC’s induction procedure in recognised nursing schools
KARACHI: It seems that the alleged mafia within the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) has badly damaged the noble profession of medical care as there are 29 unauthorised male nursing schools that are operating in the province, while 27 others are under pipeline which offers Diploma in Nursing Programme (DNP), Pakistan Today learnt on Thursday.
“Out of 29 private male nursing schools in Sindh, 22 have no any hospital of their own whereas as per PNC notification dated 12.12.2009 no new school will be organised for nursing training until it establishes its own hospital as a clinical site”, the official documents said.
In this regard, Health Additional Chief Secretary Dr Muhammad Usman Chachar has forwarded a letter to the federal health secretary, Ministry of NHS R&C pointing out the mismanagement by the PNC.
While talking to Pakistan Today, Dr Muhammad Usman Chachar said that the number of private nursing schools in Sindh is much higher than the other three provinces, specially those for males.
While there are no male nursing schools in the Punjab and KP registered with PNC in DNP, there is only one school of nursing in Balochistan, however recently four new nursing colleges for BSN programme in KP registered with the female-male ratio of 90:10 prescribed by PNC.
“Total 39 male nursing schools in Sindh already existing are (10 public and 29 private sectors). Furthermore, 27 new private male schools of nursing are in process of registration with PNC,” Dr Chachar confirmed.
“Serious irregularities were found in the PNC procedure for handling of un-recognized schools. In place of imposing the ban on unrecognised schools, PNC is facilitating them by special examination on nominal penalties.
“Few schools took benefits of such amnesty scheme of PNC and taking admission in previous dates and trying to get their students to appear in the examination with proper classes and training,” he added.
Moreover, PNC is also registering private male nursing schools without seeking recommendation (NoC) from the Health Department.
PNC did not resolve recognition matter of nine schools within the due time before the annual September 2017 examination of SNEB, and are now pressing hard for conducting a special examination of un-registered schools, Dr Chachar added.
It is also noted that PNC issued letters to those institutions for special examination which were not in the list of agenda of PNC meeting held on April 5 to 6, 2018.
Serious irregularities were also found in the PNC procedure for handling of over-induction of students in the recognised institutions.
PNC is not following the parent Act under which it was created, and continue to issue pre-registration to students who are over inducted by nursing schools.
PNC has issued pre-registration of following schools after Annual Examination 2017 including fake and over inducted students of unregistered/registered institutes.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) had announced to continue diploma programme till the end of 2018 as the last batch for general nursing but PNC is allowing and registering it in new nursing schools, Health additional chief secretary said.
The illegally established unregistered male nursing schools are Universal Health Institute of Nursing Karachi (advertised for admissions), Oxford SON Karachi (advertised for admissions), Cambridge SON Karachi, British Institute of Nursing Karachi, Qadri Academy of Nursing Karachi, Angel SON Karachi, St Jeremiah Institute of Nursing Karachi, Pehal SON Khairpur, Rasheeda SON Khairpur (only two-room institute), Dua (unregistered), Rising Star (un-registered), Rehman Institute (unregistered), Lareb Mstfa (unregistered), Khybr Metrovile (registered), and Beachwood.
Dr Usman Chachar urged the federal authorities to take appropriate action in this regard against such schools and that PNC should not entertain the replacement of students on vacant seats after elapse of two months after the enrolment,