The policy, known as “Fitness to Practise,” seeks to safeguard public confidence in the training and conduct of nurses and midwives to ensure that every practitioner is adequately prepared physically, mentally and professionally.

It also aims to ensure that practitioners are capable of practising safely, prioritising the interests of clients and their families, while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Head of the Policy Standards and Guidelines Department at the Council, Mrs Miriam Billson, explained that the policy is not intended as a punitive tool but rather as a framework to reinforce adherence to professional standards.

She said the principles outlined adopt a patient-centered approach to professional competence, with emphasis on preventing risks that practitioners may pose to patients and addressing institutional gaps in handling professional misconduct.

Mrs Billson added that the policy provides for the establishment of a committee to investigate issues and complaints relating to unprofessional behaviour both within and outside the workplace.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Dr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, commended the Council for the initiative and reaffirmed government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage.

He noted that nurses and midwives, who often served as both the first and last point of contact for patients, remained central to this national objective.

Dr Akandoh stressed that building a competent and ethical health workforce begins at the training stage, hence the importance of proper accreditation and continuous quality assurance in health training institutions.

Board Chair of the NMC, Dr Mary Ama Opare, emphasised that the new policy would serve as a compass for student trainees, guiding them to develop the knowledge, skills, mindset and values required of true professionals.

BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU & CHELSEALINA ASANTE