The Directorate of Nursing Services (DNS)

The Directorate of Nursing Services (DNS) is the central body and focal point from which all activities relating to public sector nursing in Bangladesh are managed. This includes all involved in nursing and midwidery education and practices. Though regulation of nursing education and practice is the responsibility of the Bangladesh Nursing Council (BNC), the BNC works closely with the DNS in regulating nursing and midwifery services.

The DNS has similar responsibilities in terms of executive authority to other Directorates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The DNS is a member of most policy-making committees at national level relating to health services and education within the public sector.

The DNS is one of the four current Directorates within the MoHFW. It is the highest body for managing the overall administration of public sector nursing services and education in Bangladesh. Its main responsibilities are:

National nursing policy development and application
Strategic and operational planning
Operational plan delivery, budget management and procurement as required
Nurse and non-nurse employee administration, including appointments, promotions, transfers
Pre-service and in-service educational planning and management: Nursing Institutes and Nursing Colleges
Planning and management of development projects
Annual awards for best performance in nursing education and services
Coordination with BNC
Collaboration and coordination with other directorates, Ministries, national and international organizations