Table 3.
Comparison of national nursing acts with the ICN Model Nursing Act21
| ICN Model Nursing Act elements | India | Thailand | Myanmar | Nepal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural elements | ||||
| Part I. General | ||||
| Title of legislation | Indian Nursing Council Act (1947) | Professional Nursing and Midwifery Act (1985) | Law relating to the Nurse and Midwife (1990) | Nepal Nursing Council Act (1996) |
| Most recent year of amendment | 1996 | 1997 | 2002 | 2002 |
| Key terms defined | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part II. Council and committees | ||||
| Name of council | Indian Nursing Council | Nursing and Midwifery Council | Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Council | Nepal Nursing Council |
| Purpose of council set out | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Composition of council specified | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Committees established or authorized for establishment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Functional elements | ||||
| Part III. Registration | ||||
| Registrar position | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Establishment and maintenance of register | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Criteria for registration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part IV. Education and training | ||||
| Education standards specified (curricula) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Authority to approve training institutions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Continuing training required | No | No | No | No |
| Part V. Fitness to practise | ||||
| Code or standards of conduct/ethics | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disciplinary procedures | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part VI. Appeals | ||||
| Established process | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Part VII. Regional harmonization | ||||
| Recognition of foreign-trained professionals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part VIII. Midwifery | ||||
| Encompasses midwifery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part IX. Offences | ||||
| Offences/penalties listed | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part X. Miscellaneous | ||||
| Making and approval of rules or regulations | Yes (Council) | Yes (Minister of Health and Council Committee) | Yes (Ministry of Health, Government and Council) | Yes (Council and Government) |
| Funding of council | No | Yes (fees and other sources) | Yes (fees) | Yes (fees and other sources) |
| Total number of elements addressed | 15 | 19 | 20 | 20 |