Health Ministry takes over nurses training colleges administration

by Naalir Jamaldeen

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed authorities to take steps to bring the administrative activities of all nurses training colleges under the Health Ministry with immediate effect, Ministry sources said. Minister Sirisena has instructed Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilake to appoint two Assistant Health Service Directors to take steps to implement the program. There are 18 nurses training colleges across the country.

Except for a few, the administrative activities of these colleges are carried out by the hospital management in close proximity, according to the sources.

The Health Minister has taken this decision as the administrative activities carried out by the hospital management in connection with these training colleges were not successful, the sources said.

Meanwhile, moves are under way to provide 6,025 new nurse appointments, the sources said. Minister Sirisena instructed health sector officials to complete the renovation work of these training colleges before November, the sources said.