New Delhi : The Union health ministry has released a draft guidelines for improving working conditions of the nurses for comments from the public and the stakeholders within 30 days from the date of issuance. The document stated that the WHO Global Strategy on “Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030” calls for upholding “the personal, employment and professional rights of the health workforce, including safe and decent working environments and freedom from all kinds of discrimination, coercion and violence”.
The draft guidelines has proposed annual health check-ups, a creche facility and work hours not exceeding 40 in a week, among other measures, to improve the working conditions of nurses in all healthcare institutions. It has also recommended that all healthcare establishments may, as far as possible, provide accommodation to their nursing staff within or near their premises.
According to the draft guidelines, all healthcare establishments have to ensure adequate infrastructure and well-equipped work stations in all units or wards to enable efficient functioning of the nursing staff.
It also mandates that all healthcare establishments will have separate washrooms and changing rooms (including providing drinking water, pantry facilities, lockers, clean uniforms etc.) for the nursing staff and should identify designated resting rooms for nurses working for a prolonged duration.
The healthcare establishments will have to establish internal complaint committees in accordance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and should also take necessary measures to ensure the security of nurses during night shifts. Appropriate measures may be taken to ensure proper lighting in and around the work settings to promote the safety of nurses.
According to the guidelines, the healthcare establishments should provide induction training to the newly-recruited nurses to familiarise them with various hospital departments, facilities, guidelines and standard operating procedures, and implement fair remuneration on the basis of qualification and experience.