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Article 2, paragraphs 1, 2(b) and 3, of the Convention (in relation to point V of the report form). The Committee notes the Government's comments to the effect that in recent years there has been the growing shortage of the nursing personnel which leads to the worsening of nursing services and to abandoning of the profession by many nurses to seek employment in other sectors with better pay opportunities. There are also difficulties to recruit new candidates to nursing schools.

The Committee recalls that under this Article of the Convention, the Government shall adopt and apply a policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel designed to provide the quantity and quality of nursing care necessary for attaining the highest possible level of health for the population. While noting that the Government has already taken various measures to improve both the quantity and the quality of nursing care, especially by wage increases, the Committee hopes that the next report will refer to further measures in this direction and indicate the progress made, in particular in increasing the number of nurses. The Committee notes that comments made by the Government also appear to point to difficulties in regard to the career prospects of nursing personnel. The Committee refers the Government to Paragraphs 21 to 24 of the Nursing Personnel Recommendation in this regard and requests the Government to indicate the measures taken and the progress made in providing nursing personnel with career prospects which are likely to attract persons to the profession and retain them in it.

Article 2, paragraph 3. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on whether the employers' and workers' organisations concerned are consulted with regard to the formulation of a policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel.

The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide the statistical data asked for in point V of the report form, including data on the number of persons leaving the profession.