NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ALLIED AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS BILL 2021

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR ALLIED AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS BILL 2021

Subject: Legislations

Context : The Lok Sabha cleared the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Bill, 2021. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha last week.

Concept :

• 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, injury, or impairment. Such a professional should have obtained a diploma or degree under this Bill.
• A ‘healthcare professional’ includes 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 under this Bill.
• The Bill 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.
• The Bill sets up the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions.
• 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.
• The Commission will constitute a Professional Council for every recognised category of allied and healthcare professions.
• Within six months from the passage of the Bill, state governments will constitute State Allied and Healthcare Councils.