The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023, published on 14th August, 2023, aims to regulate the standards of nursing and midwifery education and practice in the country.
The Act establishes the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission, which is responsible for overseeing and regulating the education, practice, and professional conduct of nursing and midwifery professionals. The Act also sets out provisions for the establishment of Autonomous Boards and the Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Council to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions.
The Act provides for three Autonomous Boards under the overall supervision of the National Commission, namely the Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board, the Nursing and Midwifery Assessment and Rating Board, and the Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board. The Act outlines the composition, functions, and powers of these Boards, ensuring their effective operation.
The Act prescribes Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Council to be the primary platform of deliberation for States and Union, in shaping the overall agenda, policy and action relating to nursing and midwifery education and practice.
The Act delineates the powers and functions of the National Commission, including the power to frame policies, to regulate institutions and researches, to provide standards for faculty, to provide for mechanism for admissions, to collaborate with industry, to assess human resources, and to ensure coordination among the Autonomous Boards.
The Act also mandates every State Government to constitute State Nursing and Midwifery Commissions within one year from the commencement of the Act, and delineates the powers and functions of State Commissions.
The Act requires the National Commission to prepare an annual report summarizing its activities, which must be forwarded to the Central Government and laid before each House of Parliament. Additionally, the Act empowers the Central Government to give written directions to the National Commission, the Autonomous Boards, and the Advisory Council on matters of policy.
The Act also introduces provisions for the establishment and maintenance of the National Register and State Registers for nursing and midwifery professionals. These registers are intended to serve as comprehensive databases of qualified professionals and associates, ensuring transparency and accountability in the nursing and midwifery sector.
The Act also provides for National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Fund, to provide financial resources for the effective implementation of the Act. The Act specifies the sources of the Fund, including grants from the Central Government, fees and charges collected by the National Commission, and donations and contributions from individuals and organizations.
You can download the Act text here.
