In a significant step towards strengthening neonatal care in India, the Neonatal Critical Care Nursing Training Initiative has been launched at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. Designed to train 1,500 nurses through a blended online–offline model, the programme is a collaborative effort between KEDMAN SkillEd India Foundation, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita Hospital, Getinge Medical India Pvt. Ltd. under its CSR mandate, and Business Sweden, promoting Indo–Swedish cooperation in healthcare.

India’s Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) currently stands at 19 per 1,000 live births, according to the Sample Registration System (2021), falling short of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 12 per 1,000 by 2030. While states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu have achieved single-digit mortality, others including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh continue to report significantly higher rates.

Studies suggest that strengthening neonatal nursing capabilities can reduce mortality by 15% to over 50%, making nursing-led interventions one of the most cost-effective strategies for saving newborn lives. However, many nurses currently enter NICUs without standardized competency-based training, leading to variations in care quality.

The newly launched programme, developed end-to-end by KEDMAN SkillEd India with clinical guidance from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, offers structured neonatal critical-care training. It combines advanced digital content, simulation-based skill development, specialist-led case sessions, AI-enabled proctored assessments, competency certification, and residential advanced immersion for top performers. Nurses undergo 12 comprehensive, medically validated modules designed by leading neonatologists at Amrita Hospital, ensuring consistent and measurable outcomes aligned with national care standards.

Speaking at the inauguration, Aruna Nayak, Managing Director, Getinge Medical India, said, “Getinge is proud to support this initiative under our CSR mandate. Building critical care capacity is central to our commitment to India’s healthcare ecosystem.” Swami Nijamritananda Puri, Administrative Director, Amrita Hospital–Faridabad, added, “Every newborn life is precious, and empowering nurses with advanced skills is one of the greatest contributions we can make to society. When clinical excellence, technology, and a spirit of service combine, the impact reaches far beyond hospital walls.”

Dr. Sanjeev K. Singh, Medical Director of Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, emphasised the structured and scientific approach of the initiative, noting that the blended model allows nurses not only to learn theoretical concepts but also to confidently apply them in real clinical settings. Rajiv Mathur, CEO of KEDMAN Skilling Private Limited, highlighted the scale potential, stating, “With support from Kunskapsskolan Sweden, Manav Rachna’s academic ecosystem, and Amrita’s clinical expertise, we are creating a national benchmark for healthcare skilling. KEDMAN’s digital content and implementation capabilities will enable nationwide impact.”

India faces a critical need for over 100,000 specialized neonatal nurses over the next decade, along with approximately 650,000 additional nurses to meet WHO benchmarks. The Neonatal Critical Care Nursing Training Initiative represents a model of how international educational frameworks, clinical excellence, and CSR-driven partnerships can work together to enhance healthcare delivery and contribute directly to India’s SDG 2030 commitments.

KEDMAN SkillEd India Foundation, a Section-8 not-for-profit promoted by Manav Rachna Educational Institutions and Kunskapsskolan Education Sweden AB, specializes in large-scale healthcare capacity building. Leveraging KEDMAN Skilling Private Limited’s expertise in curriculum development, digital learning, and LMS-led program delivery, the Foundation is actively implementing innovative skilling initiatives across multiple states in India.