THE proposed merger of the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) with the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) has ignited a significant debate within the relevant sectors. The move has raised concerns about the future of nursing as well as midwifery in the country, further threatening to dilute thefocus on these crucialprofessions.

No doubt, nursing is the backbone of any healthcare system. Nurses play a critical role in patient care, health promotion, disease prevention, and in many cases, they serve as the first point of contactforpatientsin bothruraland urban areas.

As such, nurses and midwives require a focussed regulatory body to address their unique professional needs, educational requirements, and the continuously evolving landscape of healthcare, which is rapidly being transformed by new technologies, expanded roles, and increased responsibility.

While allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, laboratory technicians and radiologists,play a crucialrole in healthcare, their scope of practice, training and responsibilities differ significantly from those of nurses as well as midwives. Nursing, as a profession, requires specialised oversight to ensure the highest standards of practice, continued professional development, and ethicalaccountability.

The inclusion of a wide range of allied health professionals under the same regulatory body threatens to dilute the focussed oversight that nurses and midwives require.

Nursing and midwifery require specific and stringent educational and practice standards that align with internationalguidelines. A merger with the AHPC will end up compromising the standards because a unified council may struggle to cater to the distinct needs of each profession under its umbrella.

Merging the two councils would create a larger, more cumbersome regulatory body, potentially leading to inefficiency, slower decision-making processes, and a lack of clear focus on the core challenges facing the nursing and midwifery professions in Pakistan.

With a shared council, the focus on developing strong nursing leaders essentialfor elevatingthe profession and meeting the country`s healthcare needs could be sidelined.

An independent PNMC allows for the creation of tailored development programmes that address the specific challenges the nurses and midwives face. From educational advancements to continuous professional training, the PNMC can ensure thatnursingprofessionals receive the support and resources they need.

The roles of nurses and midwives are expanding globally, with more emphasis on leadership, advanced clinical skills, and evidence-based practice.

An independent regulatory body can ensure thatthis progressionisnurtured, without being hindered by the competing needs of other healthcare professions.

The proposal for the merger is a short-sighted approach that could have long-term, detrimental effects on the nursing profession. It is essential that the existing PNMC remains independent to protect the profession`s identity, scope of practice, and professional growth.

Nazeer Ali Buriro Larkana