The State will soon have a new policy covering nursing education, Minister for Medical Education Dr V S Acharya announced, on Sunday.

Addressing a gathering of nursing students and teaching staff at the inauguration of a seminar  on ‘Trends in Nursing Education’, the Minister said the Cabinet sub-committee has already approved the policy in-principle. “The policy is in-place. The Cabinet will clear it shortly. Under the new policy, establishment of new nursing colleges will have to be approved by the respective university and schools by the directorate of medical education. Moreover, nursing colleges will have to deposit Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh under the policy. The Gurumurthy committee report had created doubts  among nursing colleges. Recommendations in the new policy will be objective, not subjective” said Mr Acharya.

He also said the Government will not allow any nursing colleges to be shut down. “Co-operation from colleges is required. We are willing to meet the requirements sought by managements” the Minister added.

Prof Prabhudeva, Dean, Faculty of Nursing, RGUHS,  felt that teaching standards in nursing colleges were far from satisfactory.

“We will make it mandatory from this academic year for every student to be provided with curriculum guidebook. A module on disaster management will be included in the curriculum this year for nursing students”Mr Prabhudeva said.  Prof B K Chandrashekhar, Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council and Minister for Health R Ashok were among those present at the seminar organised by the Karnataka State Association of the Management of Nursing and Allied Health Science Institutions.