Government data point to uneven implementation of NRTS, with several large States lagging behind

Government data reveal that over two-thirds of India's registered nursing workforce remains unenrolled in the Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS), despite its introduction seven years ago. Only 14.24 lakh out of 46.02 lakh registered nurses, midwives, and health visitors have been added to the digital platform, leaving 31.78 lakh outside the system.

This incomplete rollout has caused significant issues for many nurses, including delays in obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) needed to change employment locations and difficulties in obtaining credential verification for overseas work.

Disparities in the implementation of the NRTS are evident across states. States like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha have made significant progress, enrolling large portions of their nursing workforce. However, states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have only partially enrolled their registered nurses, with enrollment rates ranging from 82,000 to 57,000.

The Indian Professional Nurses Association (IPNA) has criticized the uneven rollout, arguing that it undermines the purpose of creating a centralized digital registry. The IPNA contends that some state nursing councils continue to manage registration processes independently, leading to delays and inefficiencies. In a public interest litigation filed with the Delhi High Court, the IPNA highlighted concerns about nurses relying on middlemen for registration-related documents, which often results in delays and financial exploitation.

The Indian Nursing Council (INC), responsible for the NRTS, maintains that the responsibility for registration lies with state nursing councils. The Council emphasizes the importance of consistent adoption and operational discipline by all state councils to ensure the system's effectiveness. Nursing organizations, however, remain critical of the INC's actions, calling for immediate intervention to resolve the systemic issues affecting nurses across the country.