Rajya Sabha Clears Bill To Regulate Allied & Healthcare Professions; Establish National Commission & State Councils

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2020, to regulate and standardise the education and practice of allied and healthcare professionals in India. Introduced by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, on September 15, 2020, the Bill brings 56 allied and healthcare services into 10 categories. These broadly include professional categories such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Ophthalmic Sciences, Nutrition Sciences, Medical Laboratory and Life Sciences, Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology, Medical Technologists and Physician Associates, Trauma, Burn Care and Surgical / Anesthesia related Technology, Community Care and Behavioral Health Sciences and Health Information Management and Health Informatics. While introducing the Bill, the Health Minister said that whereas doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, etc, are regulated by their own regulatory bodies, a proper structure for development and maintenance of standards of services and education of allied and healthcare professionals through a National Regulatory Body has been long overdue.The Statement of Objects annexed to the Bill states:"With the advancement in the health sector, changing preferences of consumers and service providers, it is now warranted to create a fresh vision of healthcare delivery with a patient-centric approach and focus on moving to a multi-disciplinary team-based care. This has necessitated the need to implement new ways of deploying health workers, strengthening the workforce by task-shifting models and improving access to quality services through qualified and competent allied and healthcare professionals" Therefore, it contemplates establishment of a National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions and Councils at the State-level. Salient Features The Bill specifies Allied and healthcare professions in the Schedule annexed to the Act. An Allied health professional includes an associate, technician or technologist who is trained to perform any technical and practical task to support diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease, injury or impairment, and to support implementation of any healthcare treatment and referral plan recommended by a medical, nursing or any other healthcare professional. Such professional should have obtained a diploma or degree under this Bill, the duration of which should be at least 2,000 hours spread over a period of 2-4 years. A Healthcare professional includes a scientist, therapist or other professional who studies, advises, researches, supervises or provides preventive, curative, rehabilitative, therapeutic or promotional health services. Such professional should have obtained a degree under this Act, the duration of which should be at least 3,600 hours spread over a period of 3-6 years. National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions The Bill proposes to set up a National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions to consist of a Chairperson;a Vice-Chairperson;5 members at Joint Secretary level representing various Central Ministries/ their Departments;1 representative from the Directorate General of Health Services;3 Deputy Directors or Medical Superintendents appointed on a rotational basis from amongst medical institutions including AIIMS, Delhi and AIIPMR, Mumbai;12 part-time members representing State Councils, charitable institutions, etc. Functions The Commission will perform the following functions: frame policies and standards for regulating education and 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, and provide for a uniform entrance and exit examination, among others. Professional Councils The Commission is also required to constitute a Professional Council for every recognised category of allied and healthcare professions. Such Councils will consist of a President and 4-24 members, representing each profession in the recognised category. State Councils Apart from a National Commission, the Bill also contemplates establishment of Councils at State-level, within six months from the passage of the Bill, to regulate allied and healthcare professionals. The State Councils will consist of: a Chairperson with at least 25 years of experience in the field;1 member representing medical sciences in the state government;2 members representing state medical colleges;2 members representing charitable institutions;2 members from each of the recognised categories of allied and healthcare professions, nominated by the state government. Functions The State Councils will: enforce professional conduct...

Rajya Sabha Clears Bill To Regulate Allied & Healthcare Professions; Establish National Commission & State Councils

Akshita Saxena

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