Bihar Government Sets Timeline for Long-Pending Nursing Examinations
In a significant development for healthcare education in Bihar, Health Minister Mangal Pandey has announced a concrete schedule for conducting Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) and General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) examinations that have been pending for three years. The announcement came during the state assembly's Question Hour on Friday, responding to concerns raised by JD(U) MLA Manjit Singh.
Three-Year Examination Backlog Impacts Thousands
Manjit Singh highlighted that examinations for ANM and GNM courses have not been conducted in Bihar for the past three years, directly affecting the career prospects of more than 50,000 nursing students across the state. These students have been unable to complete their certification and enter the healthcare workforce due to the prolonged examination delays.
Health Minister Mangal Pandey acknowledged the serious delay and provided specific timelines for resolution. "Examinations for the 2023-24 academic session will be held in March-April," Pandey assured the assembly. He confirmed that ANM and GNM exams have remained pending for three consecutive years and added that examinations for the 2024-25 session would also be conducted promptly following the upcoming sessions.
Government Initiatives to Streamline Examination System
The health minister outlined several measures being implemented to address the systemic issues:
- Necessary guidelines have been issued to relevant universities and institutions to ensure regular conduct of examinations
- The health department is working continuously to streamline the examination system
- Concerted efforts are underway to ensure students receive their degrees on time
- Special attention is being given to prevent employment opportunity deprivation for nursing graduates
"The government is making concerted efforts to ensure that students pursuing these critical healthcare courses receive their degrees on time and are not deprived of employment opportunities," Pandey emphasized during his assembly address.
Additional Healthcare Policy Discussions
The Question Hour also addressed other healthcare education matters. Regarding dental education, the health minister stated that the government would not implement a domicile policy in dental colleges as the matter is currently pending before the Patna High Court. This response came after dental students had urged the government to introduce a 100 percent domicile policy.
In response to BJP MLA Vinay Bihari's question about full-time recruitment in the Bihar Dental Council and moving processes online, Pandey said the government is working to simplify procedures and enhance transparency for dentists in Bihar. "Efforts are underway to make registration, renewal and other administrative processes more convenient," he noted.
Digital Transformation and Monitoring Concerns
The state government is actively moving toward digitizing the entire dental registration system, with particular emphasis on convenience and transparency for practicing dentists. This digital transformation aims to streamline administrative processes and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
Separately, AIMIM MLA Akhtarul Imam raised concerns about governance oversight, noting that the monitoring committee has not met in the past five years. He explained that the committee's purpose is to oversee government schemes and administrative work to ensure proper public benefit. Imam alleged that in the absence of a functioning committee at the subdivision level, several government schemes are not being adequately monitored for implementation and effectiveness.
The comprehensive discussion during Friday's assembly session highlighted both the immediate challenges in healthcare education and the broader systemic issues requiring attention in Bihar's governance structures.
