Nurses must continuously upgrade themselves in the fast-evolving world of healthcare, Bengal's top health official said on Thursday.

Narayan Swaroop Nigam, principal secretary, department of health and family welfare, said nurses, who are “central to the healthcare system", must be updated about the new technologies and trends in healthcare.

"You have a very good future, especially the younger lot. But the future cannot be bright if you don't do what is required of you. You must remain relevant. You must have an understanding of the new technologies. You should be able to use modern equipment, respond to telemedicine needs and keep track of the latest healthcare trends. You must keep upgrading your knowledge," Nigam said at the Nursing Conclave 2024, organised by the CII.

He was the chief guest at the eighth edition of the conclave, held at the banquet of a hotel near the Salt Lake stadium. The conference was supported by his department.

"I was looking at some literature about how the operation theatres have transformed themselves over the years. The equipment that used to be there 10 years back is outdated now. It has been replaced by newer technology. The ICU, CCU or a ventilator, all of these have undergone a huge change. So whatever you picked up during your initial (nursing) education will never be sufficient. You have to have the mind of a curious child. Keep asking yourself: how do I improve my skill, when the new equipment comes, how I should be able to use it," he said.

Rupak Barua, mentor of the healthcare task force of the CII and the managing director and CEO of Woodlands Hospital, told The Telegraph later that the "healthcare administrators must come forward and conduct regular refresher courses for nurses".

In his address at the inaugural session, Barua said the growth of the Indian healthcare sector outpaced that of the global healthcare sector.

He also said Bengal earlier had an acute shortage of trained nurses. "But thanks to the initiatives of the government as well as the private sector, the number of trained nurses has gone up now," said Barua, the president of the Association of Hospitals of Eastern India.