Panaji: With the new Institute of Nursing Education having become operational last year at the Margao district hospital premises, Goa now has six nursing institutes offering a total of 340 seats.Until 2021, Goa had only two such institutes—the state nursing college at Bambolim, Tiswadi, offering 110 seats in the BSc nursing programme, and the Vrundavan Institute of Nursing Education at Colvale, Bardez, offering 50 seats.In 2022, the chief minister Pramod Sawant-backed Sai Nursing Institute at Sanquelim became operational, adding 66 seats to the total intake.The following year, the Bhumika Nursing College in Sattari, supported by health minister Vishwajit Rane, and the Harmal Panchakroshi Nursing College in Pernem, managed by former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, received approval from the Indian Nursing Council and the state nursing council.Both institutes also received affiliation from Goa University and became operational from the 2023-24 academic year. The Bhumika institute has an intake of 40, while the Harmal institute offers 30 seats.Now, from the last academic year, govt’s nursing institute in Margao has also become operational with an intake of 44 seats.“There appears to be rising demand for nursing degree programme seats in Goa, as nearly all the 300-odd seats were filled last year. Like Kerala, Goan nurses are now looking at opportunities abroad for nursing jobs, especially in Western countries with ageing populations seeking caretakers,” said an official.Officials said the expansion is expected to help address the growing demand for trained healthcare professionals across hospitals and clinics statewide.Additionally, the CM’s foundation has also started offering a new programme in Sanquelim — bachelor of naturopathy and yogic science — with an intake of 44 seats. The programme has a duration of four years along with an internship period.
