Ideal nurse-patient ratio: 1: 4, State’s average is 1: 40

Cabinet to decide on regularising services of contract nurses

Government hospitals in the State are facing a shortage of over 2,000 fulltime nurses. This does not conform to the Indian Nursing Council norms which stipulate a nurse-patient ratio of 1:4.

In fact, the average nurse-patient ratio across the State is around 1:40 and the situation is worse in the city. This was confirmed by Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader in the Legislative Council on Monday.

He said the process of recruiting more nurses would begin in the next three months as the government had to implement the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation in Appointment for Hyderabad Karnataka Region) Order 2013, which provides for the creation of a local cadre and reservation in the region. This order is to implement the provisions of Article 371 J of the Constitution, he said.

In his reply to Janata Dal (Secular) member B. Ramakrishna, Mr. Khader said of the 7,810 sanctioned posts in government hospitals, including autonomous institutions (teaching hospitals), 2,219 were vacant. This includes 1,595 in hospitals run by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Mr. Khader said.

When Mr. Ramakrishna asked why the government could not regularise the services of nurses who have been working for more than 10 years in government hospitals, Mr. Khader said it was being considered. “We are considering regularising the services of those who have been serving for more than 10 years.” But before that, the government would have to consider the roster and reservation system. The final decision would be taken by the Cabinet, he said.

Admitting that several government hospitals do not have enough doctors, the Minister said the process of recruiting doctors would also begin in the next three months.

He was replying to BJP member Somanna M. Bevinmarada, who pointed out that patients in Haveri district were forced to visit private hospitals because government hospitals do not have adequate doctors.