ABSTRACT
Improvements in the performance of health personnel are being sought in an effort to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). Emphasis has thus been placed on the development of health personnel as part of a national UHC strategy throughout the world. In light of this, we planned the present symposium as a means of reviewing the current nursing trends in Southeast Asia and to investigate the issues facing the practical development of nursing personnel, as well as the future directions of nursing support, with a deliberate focus on UHC.<BR> At the symposium, changes in health issues in Japan, the contributions of nursing professionals in achieving UHC, and the educational programs required by Japanese nursing personnel for international cooperation were first presented. Next, the status of health personnel in Southeast Asia was reviewed. In particular, the status of the regulatory frameworks regarding nursing personnel and the measures for enhancing the practical ability of nurses through legal means were introduced separately for Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Subsequently, as case examples of emerging countries in Southeast Asia, the nursing policies of Thailand and Indonesia were reviewed, measures for improving the practical ability of nurses through legal means in Indonesia were introduced, and support for enhancing networks within autonomous regions was proposed.<BR> International cooperation in the field of nursing requires strategic and comprehensive support for the development of nursing personnel in healthcare systems variable to economic growth and the means by which to achieve this are diversifying. Indeed, the symposium indicated the importance of responding to the diversity of support by enhancing networks of Japanese individuals involved in international cooperation and providing support for the enhancement of independent networks in Southeast Asia.
ABSTRACT
<b>Background</b><BR> The Millennium Development Goals were put forth to strengthen maternal and child health, and because infectious disease has become a trend in the world, ensuring the quality and quantity of nursing is important. We report on a survey detailing the current status of legal frameworks and qualification systems in nursing in four countries: Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Myanmar, and Vietnam.<BR><b>Method</b><BR> We conducted a semi-structured interview with nursing administrative officers, and then we confirmed those information in their countries in 2012 and 2013. We categorized the existing nursing legal framework, nursing qualification systems, professional association and council.<BR><b>Results</b><BR> The King of Cambodia stipulated to a royal decree, which was established by the nursing council. In Lao PDR, following the Law on Health Care, two nursing and midwifery related regulations were developed. The Union of Myanmar enacted the Nurse and Midwife Law. In Vietnam following the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, two Circulars were issued by the Ministry of Health to regulate the scope of practices and norms. We report on the current situation of the qualification and registration systems for nursing of each country. In addition, the development of qualifications and regulations should be reported based on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).<BR><b>Conclusion</b><BR> We conducted a comparison of four countries to ensure the quality of nursing. A challenge for the future is compliance and dissemination of the laws and regulations that have been developed. ASEAN MRA has become a driving force for improvement of these legal systems.
ABSTRACT
In Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nursing Council (BNC) legally decides the curriculum for nursing and midwifery education and appoints nurses and midwives.<BR>The BNC had revised the curriculum in 2006, and it is currently educating based on a new curriculum for the Diploma Nursing Course.<BR>In the new curriculum, the BNC aims at strengthening the capabilities of nursing and midwifery professionals according to the care needed by each patient, cultivating the critical thinking skills of these professionals, and addressing the needs of nursing and midwifery based on communities.<BR>However, the shortage of health care professionals cannot be compensated only with the Diploma Nursing Course. Private nursing and midwifery education are being continued as Certificate Nursing Courses.<BR>In Bangladesh, in the stage transitorium of nursing and midwifery education, it will be a subject how health talented people's shortage of quantitative is coped with with strengthening of the education for the quality enhancement of nursing and midwifery from now on.