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The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in its report.

Article 2, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Convention. In light of current challenges facing health-care systems in general, such as rising costs and restructuring of health services, advances in medical technology and work reorganization, or growing workload and stress, the Committee requests the Government to outline the objectives and priorities of its policy concerning nursing services and to elaborate on any time-bound action plan, programme or initiative aiming at improving the quality of nursing care, promoting knowledge and skill enhancement for nursing personnel and ensuring sufficiently rewarding working conditions for the practice of the nursing profession.

Article 5, paragraph 2. The Committee would thank the Government for transmitting, together with its next report, copies of all labour collective agreements currently in effect regulating remuneration and working conditions of nursing personnel employed in public or private hospitals, nursing homes and medical centres.

Article 7. The Committee notes that Presidential Decree No. 186/1995 on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work in compliance with Council Directives 90/679/EEC and 93/88/EEC, which has last been amended by Presidential Decrees Nos. 174/1997 and 15/1999, makes reference to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in conformity with the provisions of Commission Directives 97/59/EC and 97/65/EC. The Committee would appreciate receiving copies of the latest amendments and requests the Government to keep it informed of any new measures or initiatives, legislative or others, on these matters, especially as regards the occupational health and safety situation of nursing personnel.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes that according to the statistical information supplied by the Government there were approximately 36,000 nurses and midwives employed across the country in 1998-99. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on the application of the Convention in practice, including for instance statistics on the nurse-to-population ratio, the number of students attending nursing schools and the number of nurses leaving or joining the profession, copies of official reports (e.g. annual reports of the National Council for the Development of Nursing Care and Nursing Services (ESAN)) addressing labour and employment issues concerning nursing services and nursing personnel, as well as any practical difficulties encountered in the implementation of the Convention.