The Union health ministry issued the draft Allied and Healthcare Professional’s Central Council Bill, 2015 which will provide for regulation and maintenance of the standards of education and practice of allied and healthcare professionals through the constitution of Central and corresponding State Councils of the Allied and Healthcare Professionals and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

In order to keep pace with the advancement of medical science and development of new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, there has been a quantum jump in the demand for allied and healthcare professionals. This has resulted in the establishment of a large number of institutions and centres for the training of these professionals, many of which run without any supervision and control as to the quality and standard of education.

The Bill seeks to control all these institutions. The Bill also seeks to maintain proper standards in the training and education of allied and healthcare professionals, as it is considered essential as these personnel play a crucial role in healthcare delivery. With a view to regulating these professions, it is considered necessary to set up Council on the lines already existing for pharmacy, nursing, etc.

To begin with, the Bill proposes to set up an overarching Council for all the categories prescribed under the Rules by the central government with individual committees for each professional.

The Council will be responsible, inter alia, for maintenance of uniform standards of education in the respective disciplines and registration as well licensing of qualified personnel for practicing the professions.

It is considered expedient to provide for the regulation of allied and healthcare professionals with a view to prescribe minimum standards of allied and healthcare professional education, institutions and professional practice so that mandate of article 47 of the constitution for improvement in public health may be achieved.

The Bill will establish a central statutory authority to be known as the Allied and Healthcare Professional’s Central Council. Secretary of department of health & family welfare or a nominee not below the rank of additional secretary (ex-officio) will be the chairperson of the Council and the special director general of health service (Spl DGHS) department of health & family welfare or a nominee not below the rank of DDG(M) (ex-officio) will be the vice-chairperson of the Council.

The Council will regulate the professional conduct of allied and healthcare professionals through specifying the standards of professional conduct, code of ethics and etiquette to be observed by professionals for each cadre as prescribed under the Rules by the Central Government.

Other function of the Council include create and maintain a national live register as prescribed in the Rules; prescribe the minimum standards of education, courses, curricula, physical and instructional facilities, staff pattern, staff qualifications, quality instructions, assessment, examination, training, research, continuing professional education and promote innovations in the professions prescribed under the Rules by the central government; provide for a scheme of reciprocity for the purpose of recognition of foreign qualifications; and provide for a uniform entry examination for admission into allied and healthcare educational institutions at the graduate, postgraduate and doctoral level.

On the issue of prohibition of collection of capitation fee, donation etc, the Bill says, “No person or allied and healthcare institution who is in charge of, or is responsible for the management of any institution, shall- (a) accept, either directly or indirectly any donation, gift or other payment (by whatever name called), whether in cash or in kind, any amount by way of capitation fee; or (b) receive any fee or amount in excess of scale of fees prescribed by the council.

Allied and Healthcare Professional means such professionals who are involved with the delivery of health related services, with expertise in therapeutic, diagnostic, curative, preventive and rehabilitative interventions, and as prescribed under the Rules by the central government. Allied and Healthcare Institution means educational institution which grants diplomas, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees in allied and healthcare sciences related courses.