Minister lobbies universities:

Degree for nursing school staff

Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament yesterday that he was ready to affiliate all nursing schools to universities to start nursing degree courses for nurses in service.

The Minister also brought to the notice of the House that he had already made the request from universities.

Explaining reasons for his stance, he said there was an increasing demand in various countries for nurses and paramedics with the relevant degrees. The Minister said doctors trade unions were not willing to give clinical training at hospitals for this purpose and certain doctors expressed their objection when those trainee nurses attended clinical training.

Minister de Silva also said that clinical training cannot be given to nurses without the support of doctors.

He said that Court had ordered to give clinical training at selected hospitals and the Ministry was making arrangements to give training at those hospitals.