The Rajya Sabha on March 16, 2021 passed the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2020.
- The Bill seeks to regulate and standardise the education and practice of allied and healthcare professionals.
- The bill defines ‘allied health professional’ as an associate, technician, or technologist trained to support the diagnosis and treatment of any illness, disease and injury.
- The Bill has a provision to set up the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions.
- A provision has been made that no person is allowed to practice as a qualified allied and healthcare practitioner other than those enrolled in a State Register or the National Register.
- Under the Bill, each state will be having a separate state professional council with four autonomous boards pertaining to undergraduate education, post-graduate education, assessment and rating.
- The Bill provides an opportunity to regulate and leverage the qualified allied and healthcare workforce and ensure high quality multi-disciplinary care in line with the universal health coverage.
(Source: AIR)
