Analysis of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021

This paper analyses the long awaited and recently enacted legislation called the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. The need for overhauling, regulation and standardization of allied and healthcare professions has been encountered for several decades, but ‘efforts’ to establish a regulatory body began only in the early 90’s when the bill for Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists was drafted. The coronavirus pandemic has received invaluable contribution from allied healthcare professionals such as lab technicians and paramedics, and regulating their profession will create employment opportunities not only in India, but in the international markets as well. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that by 2030, there will be a requirement of more than 40 million healthcare professions all over the world and this legislation, by regulating, standardizing and giving recognition to such allied professions and institutions will help them in securing those opportunities thereby increasing access to quality health-education and services.