The Cabinet has approved in principle the draft of the 'Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council Act, 2014,' with some amendments repealing the Bangladesh Nursing Council Ordinance, 1983.
The approval was given in the regular meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said: “The Nursing Council ordinance, enacted during military regime, was declared illegal by the Supreme Court in 2010 along with other laws and ordinances of the military rulers."
“But, as per court order, the cabinet decided to make the law afresh to replace the defunct one. Earlier, it was only for nursing service.”
He further said: “Health ministry in consultation with other ministries and stakeholders has brought necessary amendment to the previous law while placing it before the cabinet aimed at making it time-befitting.”
“Under the law, nursing and midwifery academic diploma or degree holders would have to take the approval of the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council to start their profession in this field.”
“Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry would the head of the council and heads of different departments and directorates and concerned persons related to nursing and midwifery education would be members,” he added.
“Besides, the council will have a seven-member executive committee headed by Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry.”
Bhuiyan said the law mentioned some names of institutions which are currently giving certificates and degrees on nursing and midwifery while the interested new institution would require approval of the Council before awarding certificates and degrees on nursing and midwifery professions.
Under the proposed law, the government has been entrusted to formulate rules while the Council to formulate regulations.
