The government of India has taken a historic step with the aim of giving a new direction to the country’s health services. The Union Health Ministry, in collaboration with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), has launched a new competency-based curriculum for ten major allied and healthcare professions. This change is not just an academic decision, but it is also a concrete effort towards improving India’s public health system. These courses aim to prepare professionals who can not only meet the growing demand for domestic health services but can also compete internationally.
Today there are millions of students in the country who want to make a career in the medical field, but they do not get proper guidance and quality education. This is the reason why this initiative can prove to be a game-changer not only for the students but for the entire health system. Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava called it a revolutionary step towards bringing uniformity in the level and quality of education.
Objective of the course: Preparation of qualified and globally competent professionals
India currently employs more than 13 lakh allied and healthcare professionals, including people playing important roles such as lab technicians, physiotherapists, dieticians, optometrists, etc. But the gap in quality and training of this huge workforce weakens the country’s health infrastructure. The new course introduced by the government is a concrete effort to overcome this shortcoming. Its main objective is to ensure that all these professionals are given uniform, standardized and the latest technology-enabled education so that they can provide the best care to patients.
Today, when the nature and complexity of diseases are changing rapidly, it is not enough to rely only on doctors. The role of allied healthcare professionals has now become more important than ever. This course will not only equip them with knowledge but will also enable them to understand and resolve complex situations related to patients.
In which areas will this course be implemented?
The ten major healthcare professions for which the government has implemented this curriculum are all extremely practical and directly linked to patient care. These include professional areas such as physiotherapy, applied psychology and behavioral health, optometry, nutrition and dietetics, dialysis therapy, radiotherapy, medical radiology and imaging, anesthesia technology, health information management and physician associates.
Efficiency in these areas does not come only on the basis of knowledge, but practical training and recognized courses are required. Under the new system, students will be introduced to a clear structure of training, assessment criteria and professional ethics. This will not only increase the social prestige of these professions, but students will also get better employment opportunities.
Compulsory implementation will be done from 2026
This new curriculum will be implemented compulsorily across the country from 2026. That is, after that time, education related to these ten fields will be given only according to this curriculum. This means that all the institutions across the country will now have to start their preparations in time and adapt themselves to the new standards. Apart from this, similar courses will soon be issued for other healthcare professions covered under the NCAHP Act.
It is worth noting that the NCAHP Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2021, recognizes a total of 56 professions. The purpose of this act is the establishment of standards in health services, evaluation of institutions, and monitoring of professionals through a centralized register. The Supreme Court has already directed the central and state governments to implement this act.
Initiative arising from the need to ban illegal institutions
An important aspect of this initiative of the government is that it is an attempt to curb the illegal and unrecognized health education institutions spreading rapidly across the country. A senior official said that many such institutions are running diploma and certificate courses without any recognition, which have neither clarity of curriculum nor any systematic method of teaching.
Students coming out of such institutions neither have professional knowledge nor do they meet any standards. This situation affects not only the future of the student but also the entire health system. Therefore, this step by the government is a necessary intervention to control these institutions and improve the quality of education.
Conclusion: Towards a strong and standardized healthcare system
Improvement in the healthcare sector does not come only from new technology or equipment but from the quality of the workforce that uses those technologies. This new curriculum introduced by the Central Government and NCAHP will not only improve India’s health education system but will also provide a safe, stable and respectable career path to the youth.
This step shows that India has now become more aware, responsible and visionary about healthcare services. When all professionals undergo uniform and quality-based education, then patients in every corner of the country will start getting better service. And this is the biggest success of any health system.
