Meet nursing needs

The International Nurses Day, which was yesterday, had this as its theme - "Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Primary Health Care".

The idea coincides with the current reform of China's healthcare system, which pays more attention to basic healthcare provided to residents by community clinics. And the coincidence is buttressed by the fact that China's Regulations on Management of Nurses also took effect yesterday. This shows not only the central authorities' concern for development of this profession but also the urgency to expand the force of nurses and upgrade their quality.

The shortage of nurses worldwide, as acknowledged by the Global Advisory Group of the World Health Organization, speaks volumes for the increasingly important role nurses play in our lives.