One Nation, One Curriculum: Centre launches new Curricula for 10 Allied, Healthcare Professions
New Delhi: Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), launched competency-based curricula for ten allied and healthcare professions.
Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava recently inaugurated the launch event. Also present were Ms Hekali Zhimomi, Addl. Secretary, MoHFW and Dr Yagna Shukla, Chairperson, NCAHP.
The curricula will cover a broad spectrum of professions, including Physiotherapy; Applied Psychology and Behavioural Health; Optometry; Nutrition and Dietetics; Dialysis Therapy Technology and Dialysis Therapy; Radiotherapy Technology; Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology; Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology; Health Information Management; and Physician Associates.
This strategic initiative is aimed at ensuring uniformity and excellence in the education and training of allied and healthcare professionals across the country, thereby strengthening the healthcare delivery system in accordance with the emerging needs of the nation.
In her inaugural address, Union Health Secretary underscored the government’s steadfast commitment to strengthening capacity building and improving the quality of education and training across all domains of the healthcare sector. She highlighted that “the comprehensive revision and standardization of the curricula represent a pivotal step toward establishing consistency in educational content and delivery”.
Highlighting the importance of the new curricula launched, Smt. Srivastava stated that “India is skilling its healthcare professionals not just for India, but for the globe. The curricula launched today will set a benchmark for the quality of healthcare professionals across various faculties.”
Underlining the importance of the professions for which new curriculum has been launched, Smt. Srivastava stated that "these professions play a crucial role in preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the effectiveness of skill-based training, better align educational outcomes with industry needs, and promote greater career mobility and professional recognition for allied health professionals nationwide.”
She further added that “the success of these curricula depends not only on their design and content but also on the strength of the systems that support their rollout. This includes adequate institutional preparedness, faculty training, infrastructure development, and continuous monitoring to uphold quality standards. Digital modules of the curriculum will be crowd sourced to make them available to all for their capacity building so that the vision of Swastha Bharat can be promoted.”
Smt. Srivastava also emphasized the critical importance of establishing robust regulatory mechanisms and investing in capacity building to ensure the effective implementation of the newly developed curricula.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Yagna Unmesh Shukla, chairperson NCAHP, stated that “These curricula will ensure uniformity and an important step in the direction of actualizing the vision of ‘One Nation, One Curriculum’. It is important to note that this marks the first phase of the curriculum rollout. The release of curricula for other professional categories, as outlined under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, is currently underway and will be completed at the earliest possible opportunity.”
She further informed that “The new curricula will be mandatorily implemented from 2026. The new curricula will be available on the NCAHP website”. She also stated that after this phase of curriculum release, other curriculums of professions scheduled under the Act will also be released at the earliest.
The newly introduced handbooks represent a significant step toward establishing a unified national standard for allied and healthcare education across the country. They provide clear and consistent guidelines regarding course content, eligibility criteria, methods of training delivery, and institutional infrastructure requirements.
The newly launched curricula are built upon the following principles:
a. Standardization: Establishing minimum educational standards to ensure consistent quality of graduating professionals nationwide.
b. Competency-Based Approach: Emphasizing the practical application of knowledge and skills in real-world healthcare settings, moving beyond theoretical knowledge.
c. Holistic Development: Fostering not only clinical expertise but also essential skills such as communication, teamwork, ethical practice, and lifelong learning.
d. Support for Universal Health Coverage: Preparing a skilled workforce in physiotherapy and renal care to support the government's vision of Universal Health Coverage.
The event witnessed the virtual participation of esteemed members from various State Councils, along with distinguished subject matter experts from across the allied and healthcare sectors. Their presence and contributions added significant value to the discussions, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing standardized, high-quality education and professional development within the allied and healthcare professions.
Background:
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) is an Indian statutory body which regulates and maintains standards of education and services of allied and healthcare professionals. This commission’s objective is to establish and to be equipped with interdependent, Independent and inter referral healthcare practitioner.
The newly developed curricula aim to cultivate globally competent allied and healthcare professionals, equipped to meet the rising burden of disease and the increasing demand for allied health services. These programs are structured to align with the evolving needs of the healthcare sector, both nationally and internationally.
The development process involved extensive consultation with academic experts, representatives from professional associations, and key stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem. A thorough review of existing educational modules was conducted, incorporating insights and feedback from senior technical advisors to ensure relevance and rigor.
Furthermore, the curricula have been carefully realigned with the regulatory standards and provisions outlined in the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021. This comprehensive approach ensures that the training of allied and healthcare professionals remains current, responsive, and of the highest quality.
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