Primary Healthcare Nursing Cadre in India: Needs Paradigm Shift

Divya Aggarwal, Sumant Swain and Sanjiv Kumar

Received: January 11, 2019;   Published: January 22, 2019

DOI: 10.32474/LOJNHC.2018.02.000131

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Introduction

Nursing care is the backbone of health system. Nurses role are very critical in delivering health services and increasing equity of healthcare provision. They are the agents of change within health system and play a key role in addressing various social determinants of heath. The role of nurses in primary healthcare encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well in community settings. It includes the promotion of health, the prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. India is undergoing a major epidemiological transition. Over the last 26 years, the country’s disease patterns have shifted. Mortality due to communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNDs) has declined substantially. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries are increasingly contributing to overall disease burden. The proportion of burden of diseases in India due to CMNNDs reduced from 53.6% in 1990 to 27.5% in 2016. NCDs related burden of diseases increased from 37.9% to 61.8% and burden due to injuries changed from 8.5% to 10.7%. Life expectancy at birth improved in India from 59.7 years in 1990 to 70.3 years in 2016 for females, and from 58.3 years to 66.9 years for males. Therefore, the role of nurses in primary healthcare has changed due to the change in disease burden from CMNNDs to NCDs and injuries. Along with that they have the crucial role in recently announced Health and Wellness Centers and National Health Protection Scheme with will cover more than half a billion population in India.

Background| Current Scenario| Role in Health & Wellness Centres| Conclusion| References|