Ageing China plans to increase nurses to 2.86 mn by 2015

Beijing: Weighed down by an increasing aged population, China plans to train 2.86 million nurses by 2015 to ensure availability of 2.07 nurses for every 1,000 people. The total number of registered nurses reached 2.05 million in 2010, marking a 52 percent jump from 2005, according to a blueprint on nursing issued  yesterday by the Ministry of Health (MOH). [caption id=“attachment_175137” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The total number of registered nurses reached 2.05 million in 2010, marking a 52 percent jump from 2005. Reuters”] [/caption] Even by 2015, the ratio of registered nurses for 1,000 people in China is five times fewer than countries in the European Union and the United States by current standards. By 2015, the ratio of licensed doctors to nurses will climb from 1:1 to 1:1.2, according to the blueprint. China also plans to provide more training for head nurses in large hospitals and make nursing services accessible to households and communities, according to the blueprint. The five-year nursing development plan said the government will further standardise its nurse management system and deepen healthcare reform in public hospitals over the next few years. PTI