Tamil Nadu approves new nursing colleges in 6 districts; total BSc Nursing seats to rise by 660

The Tamil Nadu government will establish seven new government nursing colleges, creating 660 additional B.Sc. nursing seats annually. Six of the new nursing colleges will have an annual intake of 100 students each and will be established at government medical colleges in Namakkal, Tiruchirappalli, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Tirunelveli. These six colleges will collectively add 600 B.Sc. nursing seats annually.

The government order, issued by the Health and Family Welfare (PME-2) Department, gives permission to the Tamil Nadu Dr M.G.R. Medical University to establish the six new government nursing colleges.

Six nursing colleges

The six colleges will be established at

• Government Medical College, Namakkal
• K.A.P. Viswanathan Government Medical College, Tiruchirappalli
• Government Medical College, Dharmapuri
• Vellore Government Medical College, Vellore
• Government Medical College, Tiruvannamalai
• Government Medical College, Tirunelveli.

Each college will offer the B.Sc Nursing course with an annual intake of 100 students.

Also read NEET PG Counselling: NMC frames branch-specific guidelines for MD, MS admissions of disabled candidates

According to the government order, the total expenditure for the six colleges is estimated at Rs 270.27 crore, with Rs 45.04 crore allocated for each college. The expenditure will be met from the funds of the Tamil Nadu Dr M.G.R. Medical University.

The Director of Medical Education and Research said land and other infrastructure required for establishing the six nursing colleges are available at the respective government medical colleges.

Seventh college at Coimbatore

PTI states that a seventh government nursing college with an annual intake of 60 students will be established at Coimbatore Government Medical College and ESI Hospital.

With the six colleges having 100 seats each and the Coimbatore college having 60 seats, the total number of new B.Sc Nursing seats will be 660 annually. PTI reported that existing facilities at the respective medical colleges will be utilised to accommodate the new intake for the current academic year.

The proposed manpower will be engaged strictly on a temporary or contract basis and only to the extent required for the approved intake. No permanent posts will be created and no additional pensionary or other continuing liability will accrue to the government on account of such engagement. The order also states that non-recurring expenditure will be limited to essential one-time requirements for commencement of the courses.

Also read NCAHP: Allied healthcare professionals must now register, retrain every year for renewal

Chief Minister's Assembly announcement

According to PTI, the government order gives effect to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's announcement in the Assembly to establish new nursing colleges in the six districts.

While making a statement under Rule 110 in the Assembly, Vijay had said that no new government nursing colleges had been started in Tamil Nadu since 2014.

The Chief Minister had said that additional student admissions would be created in government medical colleges to produce nursing, pharmacy and paramedical personnel required to provide quality medical services.

(With PTI Inputs)