By News18
The central government has formally directed all states, union territories, and relevant educational institutions to discontinue the use of the term 鈥淧aramedical鈥 and instead adopt 鈥淎llied and Healthcare鈥 in all official communications, policies, advertisements, and academic references, News18 has learnt.
The move comes in line with the provisions of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, which was enacted to standardise and regulate this wide-ranging group of health professionals under a unified framework. In fact, the order, dated July 1, has been issued by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession (NCAHP) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
鈥淭he term 鈥楶aramedical鈥 has long been used to describe various healthcare-related professions that provide support services in healthcare delivery. However, with the enactment of the NCAHP Act, 2021, the term 鈥楢llied and Healthcare鈥 has been formally adopted,鈥 said the circular seen by News18.
鈥淚n this regard, the use of the term 鈥楶aramedical鈥 is advised to be avoided and replaced with 鈥楢llied and Healthcare鈥 in all training programmes, recruitment notifications, advertisements, educational materials, and all forms of communication 鈥 both verbal and written,鈥 the circular said.
Sent to chief secretaries, principal secretaries and health secretaries of all states and union territories, the order states that the move has been taken to ensure uniformity in terminology and alignment with the Act.
The commission has recommended immediate compliance by all state governments, UT administrations, and institutions. This includes changing terminology in training programmes, recruitment notifications, educational materials, advertisements, and all forms of communication 鈥 both verbal and written.
鈥淭herefore, all state governments/UT administrations and institutions are requested to ensure compliance with this nomenclature change and disseminate the information to all concerned authorities, institutions, and stakeholders under their jurisdiction,鈥 the order said.
New term not ambiguous, aligns with global nomenclature
鈥淚f you go by the exact meaning of paramedical, traditionally it is used to describe roles that support doctors such as lab technicians but it鈥檚 not a legally defined category and can be ambiguous,鈥 a senior government official, who was part of the meetings and discussions to change the nomenclature explained while requesting anonymity.
鈥淲hen we say allied it means a group of professionals who are 鈥渁ssociated alongside鈥 medicine covering disciplines like physiotherapy, radiography, occupational therapy, etc鈥 he said while adding that 鈥淧utting 鈥楢llied and Healthcare鈥 together creates a clearly defined, legally backed umbrella for all non-medical-doctor roles in the health sector.
Meanwhile, health departments of all states and UTs have been directed to disseminate this instruction to all concerned authorities, institutions, and stakeholders under their jurisdiction without delay.
The change marks, according to the government official quoted above, a 鈥渟ignificant administrative and educational shift, particularly for thousands of students enrolled in what have traditionally been referred to as paramedical courses, as well as for faculty, health institutions, and public communication channels鈥 who will now be known by a better-recognised, standardised nomenclature under the 鈥淎llied and Healthcare鈥 category.
鈥淭his shift aligns them with global terminology, potentially improving career mobility and academic parity.鈥