LAHORE – The University of Health Sciences (UHS) will soon launch a PhD program in nursing along with an evening Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at the College of Nursing, Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC), which was recently declared a constituent college of UHS.
This was announced by UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore during a meeting with the faculty of the College of Nursing, Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC), who called on him on Wednesday.
The visit marked the first formal interaction between the UHS leadership and the faculty of the newly merged college. The Punjab government had notified the merger of the College of Nursing AIMC with UHS on July 3, 2025.
Prof Rathore said the merger was a landmark move that would impact the future of nursing education at the national level. “We envision transforming this institution into a model nursing college,” he said. “This is not just a structural change; it’s a win-win situation for both institutions and a leap toward taking nursing education to international standards.”
Dispelling any concerns over faculty development, the VC assured that the merger would not hamper professional growth. “Instead, it will open new doors of opportunity,” he said. “All allowances and benefits available to UHS employees will now be extended to the faculty and staff of the college.”
Prof Rathore added that the focus would remain on capacity building and the professional uplift of nursing graduates. “We must eliminate the stigma associated with the nursing profession. Our graduates are highly capable and deserve recognition equal to other healthcare professionals,” he said.
He further emphasised strengthening quality assurance mechanisms and promised increased checks and balances to ensure academic excellence. “The implementation of the new COMPASS curriculum will be our immediate focus, and we aim to set new benchmarks for nursing education in the country,” the VC noted.
