Shortage of nurses and outflow to foreign countries: 250 seats to be increased in Govt nursing colleges

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has decided to increase the B.Sc nursing seats in the state. 250 B.Sc Nursing seats will be increased in Govt nursing colleges this academic year considering the shortage of nurses in the state and the outflow of nurses to foreign countries. In a meeting chaired by Minister Veena George on Friday, it was agreed to unify the seats in all the seven government nursing colleges of the state except Paripally and Manjeri nursing colleges to 100 seats.

Kerala Kaumudi had reported that 23,000 nurses went abroad in nine months. The decision to increase the seats was taken after looking into this issue.

With this, the number of nursing seats in government colleges will increase from 570 to 820. A special allotment will be made soon considering the applicants for this year's nursing admission.

Apart from this, the seats for the post-basic nursing course in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode nursing colleges will also be increased. At present both colleges have 60 seats each.

Admission to additional seats will be allowed from the next academic year. The decision to increase the number f seats comes in the wake of a report which claims that the number of people moving out to foreign countries will become 35,000 by December.

The minister explained that the decision to increase the number of seats was taken by taking into account the increasing number of people seeking treatment in government hospitals, the number of health personnel required by the state and those who want to go outside the state.