Industry–Academia–Government Synergy Will Make India the World’s Skill Capital, Says Global Nurse Force CBO

“Industry, academia and government must come together to make India the skill capital of the world,” declared Mr Paramananda Santra, Chief Business Officer of Global Nurse Force (GNF), during a high-level panel at the India Health Conference 2025.

Mr Santra expressed optimism that this tri-sector collaboration can position India as the global nursing talent hub. “At GNF we already work hand-in-hand with leading bodies such as the Indian Nursing Council, The Trained Nurses’ Association of India, several Sector Skill Councils and multiple state governments to build employer-aligned finishing programmes that elevate Indian nurses to international standards,” he said.

He emphasised that aligning curricula with global best practice, embedding soft-skill and cultural-competence training, and ensuring ethical, zero-cost mobility pathways will allow India to supply high-quality nurses at scale while advancing women’s economic empowerment and supporting national skilling goals.

The discussion formed part of the conference session “Addressing the Skills Gap and Preparing India’s Workforce for the Future,” convening healthcare leaders, policymakers and skill-development experts.

Speaking from his extensive experience at the intersection of workforce development and international healthcare mobility, Mr. Santra highlighted the urgent need for outcome-driven, employer-aligned skilling frameworks.

“India produces nearly 270,000 nurses annually, yet only 10–15% are ready for international roles,” Mr. Santra noted, citing Global Nurse Force’s internal assessments. “We’re seeing a significant gap in clinical readiness, English fluency, credentialing, and cultural competence—gaps that can be closed through integrated finishing schools, global curriculum alignment, and ethical mobility pathways.”

He also stressed the opportunity India holds in addressing the WHO’s projected global shortage of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030, positioning the country not just as a talent exporter but as a leader in ethical and strategic workforce transformation.

The remarks came during the India Health Conference 2025 panel “Addressing the Skills Gap and Preparing India’s Workforce for the Future,” moderated by Mr Goutam Bhattacharya, CEO, Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council. Joining Mr Santra were Dr Sunil K. Khetarpal (Director, Association of Healthcare Providers India); Dr Narin Sehgal (Founder Director, Sehgal Neo Hospital); Mr Suryakanta Nanda (Business Unit Head—North & East, Agappe Diagnostics); Mr Pranava Priya Dwivedi (Marketing Director, RSP Medical Services); Dr Ridima Kamal (Co-founder, Public Health Professionals Coalition for Global Impact); Ms Annie Kumar (National President, The Trained Nurses’ Association of India); Dr Sarvesh Agarwal (Group CEO, Rajasthan Hospital); and Dr Deepti Khanna (National Lead—Project Manager, Strategic Healthcare Leader, Workforce Development & Community Health Initiatives).

As India looks to strengthen its position in the global healthcare landscape, Global Nurse Force remains committed to empowering Indian nurses with the skills, credentials, and support needed to thrive internationally.