The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2020

The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2020 seeks to regulate and standardise the education and practice of allied and healthcare professionals in India.

  • The Act was introduced to provide for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by allied and healthcare professionals, and maintain a register of healthcare professions.

Allied Healthcare Professionals & Healthcare Professionals

  • Allied Health Professional: Includes an associate, technician, or technologist trained to support the diagnosis and treatment of any illness, disease, injury, or impairment.They should have obtained a diploma or degree of atleast 2,000 hours (over a period of two to four years).
  • Healthcare Professional: Includes a scientist, therapist, or any other professional who studies, advises, researches, supervises, or provides preventive, curative, rehabilitative, therapeutic, or promotional health services.They should have obtained a degree under this for duration of at least 3,600 hours (over a period of three to six years).

Key Features of the Act

  • It defines healthcare professional and allied health professional with clearly identifiable criteria. It also specifies certain categories of allied and healthcare professions as recognised categories.
  • These include life science professionals, trauma and burn care professionals, surgical and anaesthesia related technology professionals, physiotherapists, and nutrition science professionals.
  • It also mandates maintenance of a State Register or the National Register of healthcare professions.
  • National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions: A National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions will be setup, consisting of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, having representations from Ministries of the central government and other members.
    • Functions of the Commission: The Commission will frame policies and standards for regulating education and medical practice, create and maintain an online Central Register of all registered professionals, provide basic standards of education, courses, curriculum, staff qualifications, examination, training, maximum fee payable for various categories etc.
  • Professional Councils: A Professional Council will be setup for every recognized category of allied and healthcare professions. The Professional Council will consist of a president and four to 24 members, representing each profession in the recognised category. The Commission may delegate any of its functions to this Council.
  • State Councils: State governments will constitute State Allied and Healthcare Councils.
  • Prior permission of the State Council will be required to establish a new institution, or open new courses, increase the admission capacity, or admit a new batch of students to existing institutions.

Advantages of the Act

  • Allied healthcare professionals play a very important role in the delivery of healthcare services across the globe.
  • They are the first to understand the problems of the patients and serve as safety nets.
  • The Act is a right step in standardizing the conduct and services of allied and healthcare professionals. It will improve opportunities for such professionals and also streamline the healthcare ecosystem.

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