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Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Discontinue use of term paramedical: Panel to states
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has directed all universities, colleges, state governments, and Union territories to discontinue the use of the term paramedical and replace it with Allied and Healthcare in all official communications, documents, advertisements, training materials, and institutional titles. Discontinue use of term paramedical: Panel to states This move follows the enactment of the NCAHP Act in 2021, which formally adopted 'Allied and Healthcare' as the standardised terminology for a wide range of professional categories that support the healthcare system. According to the directive issued on July 1, 2025, the change is intended to create uniformity across institutions and ensure that the roles of professionals such as physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, radiology technologists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, optometrists, community health workers, and other recognised allied health practitioners are clearly distinguished and properly acknowledged. The commission emphasised that all regulatory bodies, educational institutions, and government agencies must update their official records, recruitment notices, course curricula, signage, and online platforms to reflect the revised nomenclature. State health authorities and Union territories have been instructed to implement this transition promptly and to inform all relevant stakeholders to avoid confusion and to uphold the standards laid out under the NCAHP Act.
News18
03-07-2025
- Health
- News18
'Paramedical' Term Dropped: Govt Mandates Use Of 'Allied And Healthcare' Across India
The order by NCAHP states that the move has been taken to ensure uniformity in terminology and alignment with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act. The central government has formally directed all states, union territories, and relevant educational institutions to discontinue the use of the term 'Paramedical" and instead adopt 'Allied and Healthcare" in all official communications, policies, advertisements, and academic references, News18 has learnt. The move comes in line with the provisions of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, which was enacted to standardise and regulate this wide-ranging group of health professionals under a unified framework. In fact, the order, dated July 1, has been issued by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession (NCAHP) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 'The term 'Paramedical' has long been used to describe various healthcare-related professions that provide support services in healthcare delivery. However, with the enactment of the NCAHP Act, 2021, the term 'Allied and Healthcare' has been formally adopted," said the circular seen by News18. 'In this regard, the use of the term 'Paramedical' is advised to be avoided and replaced with 'Allied and Healthcare' in all training programmes, recruitment notifications, advertisements, educational materials, and all forms of communication – both verbal and written," the circular said. Sent to chief secretaries, principal secretaries and health secretaries of all states and union territories, the order states that the move has been taken to ensure uniformity in terminology and alignment with the Act. The commission has recommended immediate compliance by all state governments, UT administrations, and institutions. This includes changing terminology in training programmes, recruitment notifications, educational materials, advertisements, and all forms of communication — both verbal and written. 'Therefore, all state governments/UT administrations and institutions are requested to ensure compliance with this nomenclature change and disseminate the information to all concerned authorities, institutions, and stakeholders under their jurisdiction," the order said. New term not ambiguous, aligns with global nomenclature 'If you go by the exact meaning of paramedical, traditionally it is used to describe roles that support doctors such as lab technicians but it's not a legally defined category and can be ambiguous," a senior government official, who was part of the meetings and discussions to change the nomenclature explained while requesting anonymity. 'When we say allied it means a group of professionals who are 'associated alongside" medicine covering disciplines like physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy, etc" he said while adding that 'Putting 'Allied and Healthcare' together creates a clearly defined, legally backed umbrella for all non-medical-doctor roles in the health sector. Meanwhile, health departments of all states and UTs have been directed to disseminate this instruction to all concerned authorities, institutions, and stakeholders under their jurisdiction without delay. The change marks, according to the government official quoted above, a 'significant administrative and educational shift, particularly for thousands of students enrolled in what have traditionally been referred to as paramedical courses, as well as for faculty, health institutions, and public communication channels" who will now be known by a better-recognised, standardised nomenclature under the 'Allied and Healthcare" category. 'This shift aligns them with global terminology, potentially improving career mobility and academic parity."
Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Physiotherapists can now use ‘Dr' prefix: National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) on Wednesday announced that physiotherapists can now use the 'Dr' title as a prefix and 'PT' as a suffix to their names. The decision came as part of the launch of the 2025 Physiotherapy Curriculum by the NCAHP under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Welcoming the move, Mumbai -based Dr Zita Misquitta (PT) said, 'For the first time, patients nationwide can directly access physiotherapy services without needing a referral. Standardised education and clinical training mark a new era of professionalism and credibility. This isn't just a regulatory update – it's a turning point in India's healthcare narrative. Physiotherapists are no longer working in the shadows of other medical professionals. They are stepping forward, not just as healers of the body, but as independent practitioners shaping a healthier tomorrow.' Under the NCAHP Act, a new national curriculum for physiotherapy has been introduced. The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) program will now be a five-year course with four years of academics and a year-long clinical internship. Admission to the course will require NEET qualification, and clinical exposure will begin from the second year itself. The new curriculum, mandatorily effective from 2026, is designed as per the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) guidelines. Aligned with the National Credit Framework, the curriculum assigns one credit to 15 hours of theory, 30 hours of practical training, and 40 hours of clinical learning. Additionally, faculty members must attend a Faculty Development Program every three years to ensure consistent teaching quality. The NCAHP Act, 2021, standardises the education, practice, and registration of allied and healthcare professionals in India. It covers a wide range of allied and healthcare professions in India, including medical laboratory and life sciences, trauma and burn care, physiotherapy, nutrition science, ophthalmic sciences, and occupational therapy, among others. It also includes professions related to community care, behavioural health, medical radiology, and health information management. Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, is a healthcare profession focused on helping individuals restore, maintain, and maximise their physical strength, function, motion, and overall well-being.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Karnataka launches allied and healthcare council
Bengaluru: The state govt will officially inaugurate Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council (KSAHC), along the lines of medical, dental, and nursing councils. The council is formed under the guidelines of National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This Act mandates all candidates completing undergraduate, postgraduate, or diploma courses in the allied and healthcare field to register their degrees/diplomas with the council to practice or work within India and abroad. The council will facilitate this registration process. It will also regulate existing and upcoming allied and healthcare institutions, verify the authenticity of certificates, and issue unique identity numbers for each registered professional. KSAHC will oversee a wide range of allied and healthcare professions, including physiotherapy , medical laboratory technology, medical imaging technology, hospital administration, nutrition science and occupational therapy. According to council officials, Karnataka is among the first states to implement NCAHP Act with full operational readiness. The council will function from its office located at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute campus. Prof. U T Ifthikar Fareed, principal of Dr MV Shetty College of Physiotherapy, has been appointed as the first chairman of KSAHC.
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Business Standard
23-04-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Centre launches standard curriculum for ten allied healthcare professions
The Union health ministry on Wednesday launched the new competency-based curriculums for ten allied and healthcare professions in collaboration with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP). The curriculum aims to produce globally competent allied and healthcare professionals to address the increasing prevalence of diseases, and the growing demand for allied services. According to several reports, India currently has more than 1.3 million allied and healthcare personnel such as lab technicians, physiotherapists, and dieticians. Commenting on the same, health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said that the comprehensive revision and standardisation of the curriculum represents a pivotal step toward establishing consistency in educational content and delivery. 'These curricula are an important step to ensure uniformity and actualise the vision of One Nation, One Curriculum,' NCAHP chairperson Yagna Unmesh Shukla added. The ten curriculums will cover professions such as physiotherapy, applied psychology and behavioural health, optometry, nutrition and dietetics, dialysis therapy, radiotherapy, medical radiology and imaging, anaesthesia, health information management, and physician associates. Shukla added that the new curriculum will be mandatorily implemented from 2026, with other curriculums of professions scheduled under the NCAHP Act to be released at the earliest. Currently, there are 56 recognised categories under the Act. Enacted by Parliament in 2021, the Act aims to provide for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by allied and healthcare professionals, assessment institutions, and maintenance of central and state registers. This comes after the Supreme Court had previously directed the central and state governments to implement the NCAHP Act, 2021. An official in the know added that the move stems from concerns over the mushrooming of unrecognised institutes providing courses in allied and healthcare aspects of medical treatment. 'The lack of regulation, in fact, has led to a proliferation of institutes offering diplomas and certificate courses without any standardised curriculum or teaching methods,' he added.
