In November 2025, India hosted a major national workshop dedicated to strengthening nursing policy, education, and midwifery practice. The three-day consultation brought together the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), the newly formed National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC), Jhpiego, senior policymakers, nursing leaders, educators, and experts from various Indian states.
The workshop served as a national platform to review current challenges, share best practices, and outline reforms that will shape the future of the nursing and midwifery workforce in India.
Key Highlights of the Workshop
1. Nurses and Midwives Identified as Core to India’s Health System: Participants emphasized that nurses and midwives form the backbone of healthcare delivery and are central to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2. Participation from National and International Organisations: The event saw representation from WHO officials, the Union Health Secretary, state health authorities, nursing educators, and experts from leading training institutions.
3. Focus Areas of Discussion: The workshop centred around four major pillars:
- Strengthening education and training standards
- Improving workforce distribution and employment
- Enhancing leadership and career pathways
- Upgrading service delivery and professional practice
4. Sharing of State Innovations: Several states showcased their successful initiatives including:
- Digital learning platforms for nurses
- Use of simulation labs in nursing education
- Modern workforce planning models
- Innovations in midwifery-led care units
These best practices are expected to be replicated in other states to bring uniformity and quality improvements nationwide.
5. Strengthening Regulatory Framework: The newly established National Nursing & Midwifery Commission (NNMC) was highlighted as a landmark reform. The workshop discussed regulatory modernization, updated standards, competency-based curricula, and transparent accreditation systems.
6. Digital, Simulation, and Technology-Enabled Learning: Experts stressed the need to integrate:
- E-learning
- Virtual simulation
- Digital skill-building tools
to improve training quality and prepare nurses and midwives for modern healthcare demands.
Why This Workshop Is Important for India
1. Large and Growing Nursing Workforce: India is one of the world’s largest producers of nurses and midwives, making strong policy and quality standards essential for domestic as well as international healthcare needs.
2. Addressing Rural–Urban Workforce Gaps: The workshop highlighted strategies to ensure equitable deployment of nurses and midwives, especially in underserved rural, tribal, and remote regions.
3. Improving Maternal and Newborn Health: Midwifery strengthening is crucial for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, improving birthing practices, and ensuring respectful, safe maternity care.
4. Aligning with Global Best Practices: With WHO’s technical guidance, India aims to modernize its nursing and midwifery education and professional standards to match international benchmarks.
Conclusion
The national workshop held in November 2025 marks a major milestone in India’s journey toward building a strong, modern, and empowered nursing and midwifery workforce. By fostering collaboration between global experts, national leaders, and state-level practitioners, the workshop has laid the foundation for large-scale reforms in education, regulation, and workforce development.
India’s commitment to strengthening nursing and midwifery will not only improve healthcare quality but also ensure that the health system remains resilient, inclusive, and capable of meeting future challenges.
FAQs
1. What was the purpose of the national workshop held in November 2025?
Ans: The workshop aimed to strengthen nursing policy, education standards, midwifery practice, and workforce development in India through collaboration between WHO, national bodies, and state stakeholders.
2. Who organized the workshop?
Ans: The World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC), and Jhpiego jointly organized the event.
3. Who participated in the workshop?
Ans: Policymakers, WHO officials, nursing educators, regulators, nursing associations, training institutions, and representatives from multiple Indian states.
4. What were the main focus areas discussed?
Ans: The discussions centered on improving nursing education, workforce distribution, leadership and career pathways, midwifery services, and service delivery standards.
5. Why is strengthening nursing and midwifery important for India?
Ans: Nurses and midwives are critical to healthcare delivery, maternal and newborn care, rural health services, and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
My self Anita Sahani. I have completed my B.Com from Purbanchal College Silapathar. I am working in Dev Library as a Content Manager. A website that provides all SCERT, NCERT 3 to 12, and BA, B.com, B.Sc, and Computer Science with Post Graduate Notes & Suggestions, Novel, eBooks, Health, Finance, Biography, Quotes, Study Materials, and more.
