Healthcare Professionals May Get Route To Regular Registration

Allied and healthcare professionals who do not yet meet the prescribed requirements for regular registration could get an opportunity to upgrade their skills, undergo supervised clinical training and qualify through examinations under a proposed regulatory framework released by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP).

The proposal comes against the backdrop of a 2026 review published in the Indian Journal of Allied Health Science, which examined the implementation of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021.

The review, titled Implementation of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021: A Boon or Challenge for Allied Health Science Students in India? – A Structured Review, highlighted both the potential benefits of the legislation and the difficulties that could arise during its implementation.

The review identified professional recognition, standardised curricula and improved employment prospects as some of the expected benefits of the Act. However, it also flagged concerns over the financial burden on students and institutions, uncertainty during the transition to the new regulatory system and difficulties in implementing the legislation.

These concerns assume significance as the NCAHP moves towards a more structured registration mechanism.

A senior official from the Union Health Ministry said under the Draft Provisional Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, eligible applicants would be able to obtain provisional registration after meeting prescribed eligibility criteria and verification of their credentials.

“They may subsequently be required to complete bridge courses, undergo supervised clinical training and clear qualifying examinations, wherever applicable, to become eligible for regular registration.”

The proposed framework seeks to ensure that provisional registration is not treated as an automatic qualification for permanent professional recognition. Instead, progression would depend on meeting prescribed educational and competency standards.

The review's findings underline the importance of making this transition accessible and practical, particularly for students and practitioners who may have received training under different institutional and state-level systems.

The draft regulations also envisage an integrated online registration system to streamline applications, verification of qualifications and issuance of registration certificates. Professionals granted provisional registration would receive a Provisional Registration Unique Identification Number (PR UID), enabling systematic identification and regulatory oversight, said the official.

The proposed provisions also cover the validity, extension and termination of provisional registration, appeals, institutional requirements for bridge courses and supervised clinical training.

The broader objective is to create a skilled and accountable allied healthcare workforce while strengthening patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivery. Allied and healthcare professionals play an important role in diagnostic services, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, medical laboratory technology, radiology and several other areas of patient care.

However, the success of the proposed framework will depend not only on uniform eligibility criteria but also on the availability of recognised institutions, affordable bridge courses, adequate training facilities and clear transition arrangements for existing practitioners.

The NCAHP, established under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, has invited comments, suggestions and objections from professionals, associations, educational institutions, State Allied and Healthcare Councils, healthcare institutions, experts and members of the public.

The draft regulations are available on the Commission's website. Stakeholders can submit their feedback by December 4, 2026. The suggestions will be considered before the regulations are finalised, said the official.