Global healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson will team with the International Council of Nurses and the Chinese Nursing Association to introduce a training program in China. The aim is to develop excellent nursing leadership and promote a healthier citizenry throughout the country.

China released the Healthy China 2030 Plan in 2016. One goal is that there should be 4.7 nurses per thousand permanent residents by 2030. Therefore, stronger training for nursing professionals has been listed as one of the plan's important tasks.

By the end of 2016, China's registered nurses totaled 3.5 million, the equivalent of 2.54 nurses per thousand people, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The Leadership for Change policy being introduced by J&J is a copyrighted program of active learning and leadership training, launched by the International Council of Nurses. The program has been implemented in more than 60 countries and territories since 1996.

During the five-day training, international healthcare experts will give courses on leadership, management, communication skills, project management, and quality improvement for students from 12 provinces in China.

"The level of nursing quality directly affects and reflects the country's level of medical service," said Edward Zhou, general manager of Ethicon, part of Johnson & Johnson Medical (China) Ltd.

"The sustainable development of the healthcare industry is a necessary driving force for the construction of a healthy China, and more high-quality nurses will be needed in the future to meet increasing healthcare needs," Zhou said.

Li Xiuhua, president of the Chinese Nursing Association, said the work is an important part of the holistic healthcare industry.

"We hope to effectively enhance the quality and ability of Chinese nursing professionals in order to jointly promote the construction of healthy China, through international exchanges and cooperation between people from all walks of life," she said.

Andrea Higham, senior director of equity programs at Johnson & Johnson, said in 2016, J&J "introduced the 'Healthy Society' initiative to China to help build a healthy China. Supporting the development of public health and medical personnel is the essential practice of the initiative, whose purpose is closely aligned with the program.

"Healthy Society" is a Johnson & Johnson global public initiative. With its global vision, depth and scale, the company actively responds to global health needs.

"The rapid development of China's economy has put forward higher demands on the ability of the nurses. We expect this project to improve their professional standards and management skills," said Annette Kennedy, president of the International Council of Nurses.

Contact the writers at caixiao@chinadaily.com.cn and zhengyiran@chinadaily.com.cn