Shimla, Aug 18 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh has invited expression of interest for opening four general nursing and midwifery schools in the private sector, an official said Monday.

These schools will be set up at Rohru in Shimla district and Sarkaghat, Mandi and Sundernagar in Mandi district.

Besides, three B.Sc. nursing colleges would be opened at Chamba, Jogindernagar and Mandi towns, also in the private sector, a spokesperson for the health department said.

He said the government has directed the sub-divisional magistrate-level committees to carry out inspection of these locations in terms of physical infrastructure, manpower and equipments as per the norms laid down by the Indian Nursing Council.

He said two auxiliary nurse-midwife schools with annual intake capacity of 30 seats each have been made functional at Shahpur and Nurpur in Kangra district. They too are in the private sector.

The Indian Nursing Council has permitted opening of one more B.Sc. nursing college at Shahpur with an annual intake capacity of 40 seats from this academic session.

He said one M.Sc. nursing college has been permitted at Baru Sahib in Sirmaur district with annual intake capacity of 20 seats, in which classes would start from this session.