Mapping of Roles and Responsibilities of NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) Staff Nurses at Primary Health Centres in India: A Multi-State Job Analysis

Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in India, necessitating a strong primary care response. Staff nurses at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) play a critical role in population-based screening and management of NCDs. However, their roles and responsibilities remain inconsistently defined across states, limiting effective implementation. Objective: To map and categorize the roles and responsibilities of NCD staff nurses at PHCs in India through a multi-state job analysis. Methods: A document review was conducted using job descriptions, national operational guidelines, and training manuals from ten Indian states—Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Meghalaya—along with four national guidelines and one training module issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Documents were sourced from official government websites and analyzed using content analysis to identify and categorize roles and responsibilities. Results: Six major roles and 37 specific responsibilities were identified for NCD staff nurses. The roles include: (1) NCD Clinical Care Provider (2) NCD Patient Counseling and Health Promotion Coordinator (3) NCD Referral Service Coordinator (4) NCD Data Management and Reporting Coordinator (5) NCD Administrative and Logistics Coordinator and (6) NCD Training, Supervision, and Capacity Building Coordinator. These roles reflect the broad scope of nursing practice required for comprehensive NCD service delivery at the primary care level. Conclusion: This study provides a structured mapping of the expanded roles of NCD staff nurses at PHCs, highlighting their integral contribution to screening, clinical care, referral, health counselling, data management, and community engagement. The findings support the need for standardized role definitions, competency-based training and supportive policies to strengthen the nursing workforce of NCD response in India.