Salient Features - The National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions Act, 2021
This Legislation seeks to regulate and standardize the education and practice of allied and healthcare professions. The paramedics and allied healthcare workers are critical part of the healthcare ecosystem and their contribution is similar to doctors and nurses. The group of allied professionals is large (comprising of 56 healthcare professions) but fragmented. They play crucial role in delivering comprehensive holistic healthcare. This new law is trying to regulate this field by providing dignity to their roles. This legislation is aimed at fulfilling long-pending demands of the sector, and enhance employment opportunities for allied and healthcare professions.
Definition of ‘allied health professional’: An associate, technician, or technologist trained to support the diagnosis and treatment of any illness, disease, injury, or impairment. Such a professional should have obtained a diploma or degree, which has regular mode of education covering at least 2000 hrs spread over 2 to 3 years period.
Definition of a ‘healthcare professional’: A scientist, therapist, or any other professional who studies, advises, research, supervises, or provides preventive, curative, rehabilitative, therapeutic, or promotional health services. Such a professional should have obtained a degree , which has regular mode of education covering 3600 hrs spread over 3 to 6 years.
Allied and healthcare professions as recognised categories: Life science professionals, trauma and burn care professionals, surgical and anaesthesia related technology professionals, physiotherapists, and nutrition science professionals.
1. The Legislation sets up the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions - Advisory and monitory role
It will frame policies and standards for regulating education and practice, create and maintain an online Central Register of all registered professionals, and providing for a uniform entrance and exit examination, among others.
2. Professional Council (each for category)
The Commission will constitute a Professional Council for every recognised category of allied and healthcare professions. At present ten council will be planned to monitor, regulate and advice on ten categories of professionals.
3. State Allied and Healthcare Councils - Implementing Agencies
Within six months from the passage of the legislation, state governments will constitute State Allied and Healthcare Councils. These State councils are the main implementing, monitoring and registration agencies. If the State does not takes proactive steps nothing will move forward.
4. Boards
The State Council shall, by notification, constitute the following Autonomous Boards for regulating the allied and healthcare professionals, namely,
(a) Under-graduate Allied and Healthcare Education Board,
(b) Post-graduate Allied and Healthcare Education Board,
(c) Allied and Healthcare Professions Assessment and Rating Board, and
(d) Allied and Healthcare Professions Ethics and Registration Board
All standards have been coded by international yardsticks and there will be representations from all states and union territories on this commission with each state having state-level commissions. This will help in enhancing their standard and skills.
This legislation is expected to benefit an estimated approximately 9 lakhs allied and healthcare-related professionals and thousands of other professionals joining the workforce annually, according to the government. The paramedics and allied healthcare workers lab technicians, radiographers, dieticians played a critical role during the covid-19 pandemic and recovery of patients. They need to be recognized, regulated and provide platform for representation at the national and international level.
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