The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a draft Bill for the establishment of national and State-level councils for regulation and standardisation of education and services provided by allied healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists and nutritionists.
Currently, allied and healthcare professionals remain unidentified, unregulated and under-utilised, the statement added.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said he was grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving landmark legislation — the Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill — which will provide employment opportunities to millions of youths and would help standardise allied healthcare. “Our system is highly focused on efforts towards strengthening limited categories of professionals such as doctors, nurses and frontline workers [like accredited social health activist or ASHAs, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife or ANMs].
“However, numerous others have been identified over the years, whose potential can be utilised to improve and increase the access to quality-driven services in the rural and hard to reach areas,” the statement said.
Mr. Nadda said the legislation would bring all existing allied and healthcare professionals on board.
