International Nurses' Day: State of Affairs of Nurses in Delhi

Despite being the backbone of the healthcare system, nurses in India continue to face chronic neglect, from inadequate pay and staff shortages to unsafe working conditions and limited career growth. While they were celebrated as heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the systemic issues they face remain unresolved.

May 12th is celebrated as Nurses' Day, as it coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is regarded as the founder of modern nursing. The National Florence Nightingale Award is a prestigious recognition established in 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India to honor and encourage the contributions of nursing personnel. This award is given to 15 nurses each year.

On International Nurses Day, we delve into the conditions of the healthcare system in India. This year, the theme selected by the International Council of Nurses is "Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies."

In India, the National Health Policy 2017 recommends the availability of 2 beds per 1,000 population. However, the number of beds in public health facilities is guided by the population norms mentioned in the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) laid down by the Government of India.

IPHS norms have laid down proper regulations for different-tier healthcare facilities in India, varying from primary health care centres to district hospitals.

The WHO-recommended bed-to-population ratio is 5 per 1,000.

As per the National Health Profile 2018, India had 1 bed per 1,844 population or 0.54 beds per 1,000 population. According to the National Health Profile 2021, India has 8,25,235 beds or 0.6 beds per 1,000 population.

Number of hospital beds in Delhi is 2.89 per 1,000 persons in 2021-22, which is much below the WHO norm.

There are currently 66 hospitals in Delhi, including government and private facilities.

According to the Economic Survey of Delhi 2022-2023, the healthcare delivery system in Delhi was re-organized in July 2015 in the following manner:

a. Mohalla Clinics (Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics)
b. Multi Specialty Clinics (Polyclinics)
c. Multi Specialty Hospitals (earlier called Secondary Level Hospitals)
d. Super Specialty Hospitals (earlier called Tertiary Level Hospitals)

The nurse-to-population ratio recommended by WHO is 3 per 1,000. In India, it is currently around 1.96. This is mostly due to the regional disparity in the distribution of nursing colleges.

In Delhi, nursing needs are not fully met. As the city expands its medical infrastructure, the nursing workforce is stretched thin, often underpaid, and frequently overlooked in policy discussion. Though the city has enough nursing institutions to meet its needs, vacancies are not being created, and existing staff are redistributed to newer facilities. A major proportion of the nursing workforce in Delhi also comes from southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Even though many new government hospitals have opened in recent years, nursing vacancies were filled by existing staff from other government hospitals, leading to shortages across all facilities. This has resulted in nurses being overworked and underpaid. Members of the Delhi Nursing Federation have complained that no vacancies have been created for the past 10 years, according to a report by Times of India.

The salary packages of nurses in Delhi also suffer the same plight. It starts from ₹15,000 for a fresher and goes up to ₹40,000 for an experienced professional, which is much lower compared to developed countries.

The situation in government hospitals is also not very different, though nurses receive some additional benefits like HRA, TLC, etc.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses were hailed as angels, but their plight remains far from heavenly.

Conclusion
As Delhi continues to build its healthcare infrastructure, it must also prioritize the welfare of its nursing staff. Creating adequate vacancies, ensuring fair pay, and improving working conditions are not just matters of justice—they are essential for a resilient and effective healthcare system. If we truly value our nurses, policy must follow praise.

References:

1. Delhi Planning Department. “Chapter 16: Health and Family Welfare.” Economic Survey of Delhi 2021-22. Government of Delhi. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/ch._16_health_and_family_welfare.pdf.

2. Delhi Government. “Hospitals in Delhi.” Accessed May 12, 2025. https://delhi.gov.in/page/hospitals-delhi.

3. Delhi Nursing Council. “List of Recognised Institutes of B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing and Auxiliary Nurse & Midwife (GNM).” Accessed May 12, 2025. https://delhinursingcouncil.com/Assets/pdf/DNC%20LIST%20of%20institute.pdf.

4. Jaiswal, Anuja. “Shortage of Nursing Staff Hits Hospitals Hard in Delhi.” Times of India, October 21, 2022. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/shortage-of-nursing-staff-hits-hosps-hard/articleshow/94997336.cms.

5. International Council of Nurses. “ICN Puts Wellbeing of Nurses at Centre of International Nurses Day 2025.” January 9, 2025. https://www.icn.ch/news/icn-puts-wellbeing-nurses-centre-international-nurses-day-2025.

_MSM/DP