Section 11 of The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021
- (1)It shall be the duty of the Commission to take all such steps as it may think fit for ensuring coordinated and integrated development of education and maintenance of the standards of delivery of services under this Act and for the purposes of performing its functions, the Commission may—
- (a)frame policies and standards for the governance of allied and healthcare related education and professional services;
- (b)regulate the professional conduct, code of ethics and etiquette to be observed by the allied and healthcare professionals by or under this Act;
- (c)create and maintain an up-to-date online and live Central Register with details of academic qualifications institutions, training, skill and competencies of allied and healthcare professionals related to their profession as specified in the Schedule;
- (d)provide scope of practice of each profession keeping in view, inter alia, need for task shifting;
- (e)provide basic standards of education, courses, curricula, physical and instructional facilities, staff pattern, staff qualifications, quality instructions, assessment, examination, training, research, continuing professional education, maximum tuition fee payable in respect of various categories, proportionate distribution of seats and promote innovations in categories in the manner as may be specified by regulations;
- (f)provide the allied and healthcare qualifications to be obtained by allied and healthcare professionals, including the name of the course, entry criteria, duration and such other particulars as may be specified by regulations;
- (g)provide for uniform entry examination with common counselling for admission into the allied and healthcare institutions at the diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level in the manner as may be specified by regulations;
- (h)provide for exit or licensing examinations for allied and healthcare professionals for professional practice or entrance into postgraduate or doctoral level and National Teachers Eligibility Test for academicians in the manner as may be specified by regulations;
- (i)provide strategic framework for rational deployment of skilled manpower, performance management systems, task shifting and associated career development pathways for allied and healthcare professionals;
- (j)provide minimum standards framework for machineries, materials and services;
- (k)take such measures, as may be necessary, to ensure compliance of the guidelines for their effective functioning by the State Councils under this Act in the manner as may be specified by regulations;
- (l)constitute committees or engage independent experts for technical advice related to any of the professions as listed in the Schedule for the efficient discharge of the functions of the Commission;
- (m)hold an Annual Meeting of the Commission with the National Medical Commission constituted under section 3 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (30 of 2019) and the Central Council constituted under section 3 of the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 (59 of 1973);
- (n)perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government or as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
- (2)The Commission may delegate such of its functions to the Professional Council as it think necessary.
Summary
- The Commission's main job is to coordinate the development of education and maintain the standards of healthcare services under this Act.
- It sets policies, regulates professional ethics, and decides the basic standards for education, curricula, and tuition fees.
- It is responsible for creating and maintaining an online Central Register that lists professionals and their qualifications.
- It establishes uniform exams for students entering schools (with common counselling) and uniform exit/licensing exams for graduates.
- It outlines how tasks can be shifted among professionals, manages career pathways, and sets minimum standards for healthcare machinery and materials.
- It meets annually with other national medical and homoeopathy councils and can pass some of its duties down to the Professional Councils.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Who decides the rules for entering an allied healthcare college?
The Commission sets up a uniform entry exam and common counselling for admissions.
2. Does the Commission keep track of who is qualified?
Yes, it creates and maintains an up-to-date, online Central Register with details of professionals' qualifications and skills.
3. Can the Commission control what schools teach?
Yes, it provides the basic standards of education, courses, curricula, and physical facilities.
4. Does the Commission work entirely alone?
No, it can engage independent experts, delegate tasks to Professional Councils, and must hold an Annual Meeting with the National Medical Commission and Homoeopathy Central Council.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 11 of The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, the Commission has sweeping duties to frame policies, standards, and maintain the Central Register. Based on the cross-reference to Section 3 of this Act regarding the constitution of the Commission, who is ultimately trusted with executing these vast duties?
Q2.Under Section 11 of The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, what specific format must the Central Register take?
Q3.Under Section 11 of The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, what strategy is the Commission explicitly empowered to framework to help deploy skilled manpower efficiently?
Q4.Under Section 11 of The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, which external bodies must the Commission meet with annually?
Q5.Under Section 11 of The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, what mechanism does the Commission provide for academicians?