The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023:
- Kartikey Goel
- Feb 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 18
The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act of 2023 (the "NNMC") received the president's approval on August 12, 2023. The Indian Nursing Council Act, of 1947 was repealed and replaced by the NNMC with a contemporary framework, bringing about a significant legislative reform in the industry. The commissions and boards of the NNMC work to ensure accountability and transparency, strengthen professional conduct, and regulate and improve nursing and midwifery education and service standards. The following are the NNMC's standout characteristics:
1. The Central Government shall create a National Nursing and Midwifery Commission ("National Commission") according to the NNMC, which shall have 29 members, comprising the Chairperson, sixteen ex officio members, and twelve members as follows: the chairperson; a representative from the Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; b a representative from the Ministry of Defence, Military Nursing Services, and the General of Armed Forces Medical Services; and c a representative from the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The president of each autonomous board; (d) one representative of the Directorate General of Health Services; (e) one person representing the National Medical Commission; (g) three individuals who do not have a lower position than Dean or Principal of the College of Nursing, Chief Nursing Officer, or Nursing Superintendent of any hospital; Six nursing members of distinction, one from each of the six zones, comprise (h) one person from each of the six zones. (j) four eminent members of the nursing and midwifery professions; (k) a representative of a nonprofit organization that offers education or other services to those working in the nursing and midwifery professions. (l) a distinguished individual that the Central Government will nominate. The National Commission will have meetings once every three months at its head office in Delhi.
Among the duties of the National Commission are:
· to identify and regulate any other category of nursing and midwifery profession;
· to set policies and standards for the governance of nursing and midwifery education and training;
· to provide basic educational standards, physical and instructional facilities, assessment, examination, training, research, continuing professional education, and the highest tuition fee permissible in the field;
· to collaborate with industry and other institutions for the use of cutting-edge technology and hybrid education to drive innovation and research in the field of nursing and midwifery;
· to integrate to provide for a mechanism, either through final year undergraduate exam,
· to ensure adequate competence of the nursing and midwifery professionals for enrolment in the National or State Register, and for granting licence to practice as a nursing and midwifery professional;
· promoting, coordinating, and laying down rules and policies for the effective operation of the National Commission, the Autonomous Boards, the Advisory Council, and the State Commissions; ensuring coordination among the Autonomous Boards; ensuring policies and codes to ensure the observance of professional ethics
· to promote ethical conduct during the provision of care by nursing and midwifery professionals, including nursing associates and midwifery associates;
“To ensure uniformity in nursing education and development and to maintain the competence of nursing and midwifery practitioners to deliver high-quality healthcare services, the National Commission will use these responsibilities. To promote the employability and global mobility of Indian nurses, The National Commission also wants to invite international professionals and industry experts to their meetings. Indian nurses will be able to advance their knowledge and abilities thanks to this international partnership. To encourage collaboration and excellence in the subject, the National Commission will work with business and other organizations.”
2. Under the general direction of the National Commission, the Central Government will establish the following autonomous boards (the "Autonomous Boards").
a) The Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board (AKA "Education Board")
b) The Board for Nursing and Midwifery Assessment and Rating; and
c) the Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board (“Ethics Board”).
3. Expert Advisory Committees ("Advisory Committee"): Every Autonomous Board, excluding the Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board, shall get assistance from an Advisory Committee made up of professionals appointed by the National Commission. The National Commission will establish ethics committees of specialists to support the Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board. The National Commission will receive advice and assistance from the Advisory Committee regarding nursing and midwifery services, training, education, and research.
4. State Nursing and Midwifery Commissions: In the absence of an existing State Commission, each State Government shall establish a State Nursing and Midwifery Commission ("State Commission"). There will be ten people on it. Representatives from the state's health department, nursing and midwifery schools, and nursing and midwifery professions will all be represented.
5. Obtaining approval to open a new nursing or midwifery institution: The Nursing and Midwifery Assessment and Rating Board must be consulted in the manner provided by the NNMC to create a new nursing and midwifery institution, launch a postgraduate program, or increase the number of seats in an institution.
The following criteria by the NNMC shall be considered when approving or rejecting a proposal:
a) the sufficiency of the available funds;
b) if the nursing and midwifery institution has access to sufficient academic staff and other necessary facilities, or will have them within the timeframe given in the proposal;
c) if sufficient hospital facilities have been provided or will be provided by the date stated in the plan; and
d) any additional elements that the regulations may list. However, with the previous approval of the Central Government, the requirements for institutions founded in regions identified by regulations may be relaxed.
6. The Nursing and Midwifery Ethics and Registration Board will keep alive and active Indian Nurses and Midwives Register with details on the credentials of midwifery and nursing professionals and associates. The National and State Registers must be dynamically and electronically synchronized so that updates made to one register are automatically reflected in the other. This is the responsibility of the Ethics Board. The National Registrar will also be made available to the public as a digitally accessible portal and will be a public document. To engage in certified professional midwifery or nursing practice, a person must be listed on the National or State Register. Any violation of this clause could result in a year in jail, a fine of up to five lakh rupees, or both.
7. Qualifications for nursing and midwifery are recognized under the NNMC. All nursing and midwifery qualifications given by any university or institution must be listed and kept up to date by the Education Board. A university or other organization may request the Education Board's recognition of a course if it wants to offer one that is not on the list. Additionally, the National Commission has the authority to revoke the recognition of a university or institution if the requirements for candidates at any examination, including the courses they must take and exams they must pass, do not meet the standards established by the Education Board; or if any university institution fails to uphold the institution's infrastructure, faculty, and educational standards, and no corrective action is taken.
The NNMC promotes training and certification programs for nursing and midwifery that focus on building soft skills among registered professionals. The goal of this effort is to increase the knowledge of nursing and midwifery practitioners in a variety of fields. Additionally, it would encourage innovative thinking and cutting-edge technology in nursing education. It will also encourage openness and accountability among nursing education regulators.
The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill 2023's approval marks an important step in the direction of increasing the bar for nursing practice and education, fostering innovation, and enhancing cross-sector collaboration. It will develop a framework that strengthens professional standards, education quality, and access for nurses and midwives. It is a critical step towards creating a highly qualified and competent nursing workforce that will deliver top-notch healthcare to the country.
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