Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1979)

Articles 2 and 3(1) of the Convention. National policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel. Career prospects and remuneration of nursing personnel. Nursing education and training. The Committee welcomes the information provided in the Government’s report, including in the Health Bulletin published in 2017 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which supplies information regarding national health indicators in Bangladesh. The Government indicates that the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council Act was adopted in 2016 and that the national strategic directions for midwifery are developed by the Bangladesh Nursing Council in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Committee notes that, according to the Health Bulletin 2017, with the support of the WHO, the Government drafted the Bangladesh Health Workforce Strategy 2015. The Strategy was approved by the National Steering Committee for Implementation in 2016. The Committee notes that, according to the Health Bulletin 2017, the WHO estimates show that Bangladesh continues to experience a severe shortage (over 280,000 nurses) of qualified nursing personnel. Available data from the WHO Global Health Observatory indicates that there were on average only three nurses per 10,000 persons in Bangladesh in 2017. According to the Health Bulletin 2017, the Government is addressing the shortage of human resources in the healthcare sector as a priority and has taken steps to fill vacant positions and create new ones. In this respect, the Committee notes the numbers of sanctioned, filled and vacant posts under the Directorate-General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM), as indicated in the Health Bulletin 2017. In response to the Committee’s 2015 direct request, the Government indicates that registered nurses and midwives work at different levels in the healthcare system, being employed in institutions providing healthcare services, healthcare education and healthcare policymaking. The Government indicates that there are approximately 28,748 registered nurses in Bangladesh, of which 14,594 are employed in the public sector. It adds that nearly 13,000 registered nurse–midwives are either unemployed or working in the non-government sector, and some 2,000 are working abroad. The Government indicates that, in terms of basic education and training at national level, there are two forms of pre-service education in nursing (a diploma in nursing and a BSc in nursing), in addition to in-service (post-basic) education. The Committee notes the information provided in the Health Care Bulletin 2017 regarding existing nursing institutions, which offer different types of nursing education, as well as the number of seats available. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the adoption of a revised Health Workforce Strategy and on the results obtained through its implementation. It also requests the Government to provide information concerning measures taken or envisaged to prevent or address the shortage of qualified nurses, including the measures taken to increase opportunities for education, training and employment, as well as in relation to improving employment and working conditions, including status, career prospects and remuneration, with the aim of attracting men and women to the profession and retaining them in it. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to supply information regarding wages, benefits and career prospects for nurses as compared to other similar occupations, such as pharmacy technicians. The Committee further requests the Government to transmit a copy of the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council Act, 2016.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information, disaggregated by age, sex and region, concerning the situation of nursing personnel – including midwives –, the nurse–population ratio, the number of nursing personnel broken down by those working at public and private healthcare establishments, and the number of those who leave the profession each year. The Government is also requested to provide copies of any recent reports or studies relevant to the matters covered under the Convention.