The Maharashtra government has announced plans to establish 10 new nursing colleges across the state as part of a major expansion of nursing education aimed at addressing the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. The decision is intended to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce amid rising patient volumes and expanding medical infrastructure.

State Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif informed the Legislative Assembly that the expansion is being undertaken in line with a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the department. He said the new institutions will help bridge the shortage of qualified nursing professionals while supporting the state’s long term healthcare needs.

According to the mi nister, the initiative aligns with Maharashtra’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery by increasing the availability of trained nurses for government hospitals, medical colleges and other healthcare institutions. The additional colleges are expected to expand nursing education capacity, create more training opportunities for students and improve the availability of skilled manpower across urban and rural healthcare facilities.

India has witnessed a steady rise in demand for nurses due to the expansion of hospitals, increasing burden of chronic diseases and growing elderly population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nurses constitute the largest segment of the global healthcare workforce and play a critical role in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). However, several countries, including India, continue to face shortages of trained nursing professionals.

The move also supports the Government of India’s broader efforts to strengthen healthcare education and human resources. In recent years, the Centre has announced initiatives to expand nursing education infrastructure alongside the rapid growth of medical colleges and allied health institutions to meet future healthcare demands.

Healthcare experts have welcomed Maharashtra’s decision, stating that increasing nursing education capacity is essential for improving patient care, reducing workforce shortages and strengthening public health services. They believe the new colleges will not only create employment opportunities but also enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare across the state.

The proposed expansion underscores Maharashtra’s commitment to building a robust healthcare workforce and ensuring that the state’s healthcare system is equipped with adequately trained nursing professionals to meet the growing demand for quality medical services.