Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo today inaugurated General Nursing and Midwifery School (GNM), here at Akhnoor.Director Health Services Dr Samir Mattoo, Deputy Director Health Services Dr. Renu Khajuria, Chief Medical Officers Dr. Danish Khan besides BMOs and other senior officers of the department were present on the occasion.The school has state-of-the-art facilities with modern equipment. It has four laboratories, which include Nutrition Lab, Nursing Foundation Lab, OBG & Pedia Lab and Nursing Skill Lab, Library, Computer Lab, Audio-Video Lab, Lecture Hall and other essential facilities. Initially the school has offered courses like Medical Assistant, Lab Technician, GNM and Female Multipurpose Health Worker, adding that more than 70 student are studying in these courses. In his inaugural address, Atal Dulloo said that para-medical staff is the backbone of healthcare services. He said that 11 ANM and GNM Schools have been sanctioned in phase 1 by the government, which will become operational by this year. He further said that in phase two more 10 ANM & GNM schools have been sanctioned, which are at different stages of construction, and are expected to start function by next year.The Financial Commissioner said that government has also started two Nursing colleges in Jammu, in which, admissions will be started within two months. He said that government has decided to start courses like B.Sc in Nursing, M.Sc in Nursing and B.Sc courses in different para-medical streams. He said that these steps have been taken to strengthen the availability of para-medical staff, nursing staff, lab technicians, pharmacist etc in the hospitals.He said that eight new courses like operation theatre technician, anesthesia technician, cardio and other related streams will be started in GMC Jammu, GMC Srinagar and Medical Colleges of Baramullah, Anantnag, Doda, Rajouri and Kathua. He expected to have intake of 560 students in these para-medical courses every year. He stressed that standard of education should be maintained by the institutions weather it is govt. or private.