New Delhi: Providing major relief to various state governments who have not yet established their state councils for allied healthcare professions, the centre has now given them a two and a half year extension to form the same.
Confirmation to the same comes in the form of a gazette notification where Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a critical update regarding the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. In a recent order published on November 2, 2023, the ministry noted the challenges faced by State Governments in constituting State Allied and Healthcare Councils within the previously stipulated timeframe.
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The original act, which came into effect on May 25, 2021, required each State Government to establish a State Council within six months to exercise powers and perform duties under the act. However, due to complications such as ongoing elections, the difficulty in sourcing experienced professionals, and legislative procedures, the deadline for setting up these councils was not met.
To mitigate these difficulties, the period for forming the councils was extended to two years and six months through the 5th (Removal of Difficulties) Order, dated May 18, 2023. The Ministry, utilizing the powers granted under section 69 of the Act, has now issued the 6th (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2023. This latest order further extends the deadline, giving State Governments and Union Territories a maximum of three years from the act's commencement date to establish their respective State Allied and Healthcare Councils.
What do the State Allied and Healthcare Councils do?
On Similar lines to the National Medical Commission for registered medical practitioners, the state Councils are required to establish four independent boards: the Undergraduate Allied and Healthcare Education Board, the Postgraduate Allied and Healthcare Education Board, the Allied and Healthcare Profession Assessment and Rating Board, and the Allied and Healthcare Professions Ethics and Registration Board. Each board will be led by a president and include members from each recognized category, as outlined by the regulations.
The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Boards will set educational standards for undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-specialty levels, create competency-based dynamic curricula, review institutional standards, oversee faculty development, approve recognized courses, and carry out other duties delegated by the State Council.
The Assessment and Rating Board will oversee the evaluation and grading of allied and healthcare institutions. This includes conducting inspections, authorizing the establishment of new institutions and seat capacities, selecting assessors, issuing warnings or fines, recommending the withdrawal of recognition from institutions, and ensuring the maintenance of essential standards, as directed by the State Council.
The Ethics and Registration Board is responsible for maintaining up-to-date state registers of all licensed allied and healthcare practitioners, regulating professional conduct, promoting ethics, and performing additional functions as assigned by the State Council.
Furthermore, the State Council has the authority to form multiple professional advisory boards to address issues related to one or more recognized categories, provide recommendations, and undertake any other tasks authorized by the State Council, as specified by the Act.
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