Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Congo (Ratification: 1986)

Article 2 of the Convention. Formulation of a national policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel. The Committee notes the Government’s report, which only partially replies to its previous comments on the formulation of a national policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the actions taken to ensure consultation with the representatives of nursing personnel and their participation in the formulation of the strategic human resources development plan for health. It also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures adopted to provide nursing personnel with education and training appropriate to the exercise of their functions and employment and working conditions which are likely to attract nursing personnel to the profession and retain them in it. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the ratio of nursing personnel to the number of inhabitants, and on the distribution of nursing personnel between urban centres and rural areas.

Article 3. Education and training of nursing personnel. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the extent of the problems encountered by the paramedical schools responsible for training nursing personnel, with an indication, based on statistical data, of the current and foreseeable effects of the insufficient numbers of young graduates of paramedical schools on the planning of nursing services, as well as the measures taken or envisaged to remedy this situation.

Article 4. Requirements for the practice of nursing. The Committee notes that the Government reiterates the information that it provided in its previous report, according to which the requirements for the practice of nursing are established primarily by Decree No. 88-430 of 6 June 1988 determining the requirements for the autonomous exercise of medicine and paramedical and pharmaceutical services. The Committee nevertheless observes that a copy of the Decree in question has not been provided despite its specific request in this regard. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide a copy of Decree No. 88-430.

Article 5. Participation of nursing personnel in the planning of nursing services. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the machinery for the settlement of collective disputes in the public sector and on the problems encountered in its implementation.

Article 6. Conditions of employment and of work of nursing personnel. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that nursing personnel working in the private sector do not have a specific collective agreement, but that Decree No. 9033 of 10 December 1986 on the organization and operation of socio-medical centres of enterprises established in the Congo requires heads of enterprises to provide facilities that meet certain standards. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of Decree No. 9033 and it once again asks it to indicate the manner in which it ensures that nursing personnel employed in the private sector enjoy conditions of work at least equivalent to those of other workers, in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention.

Article 7. Adaptation of occupational health and safety measures to the special nature of nursing work. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the establishment and operation of units to combat HIV/AIDS, on the results that are expected and achieved, and on all safety measures taken or envisaged for nursing personnel designed to limit as much as possible the risk of contracting HIV.