India's healthcare sector is increasingly recognising allied and healthcare education as a critical pillar in addressing the country's growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. With hospitals, diagnostic centres and healthcare providers facing persistent workforce shortages, education leaders and industry stakeholders are calling for greater investment in competency-based learning, curriculum innovation and industry-integrated training to prepare job-ready graduates.

According to Nalin Saluja, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Virohan, the global healthcare sector is confronting an unprecedented workforce crisis. Estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate a shortage of nearly 18 million health workers by 2030, while India alone faces a shortfall of more than 6 million Allied and Healthcare Professionals (AHPs). The country's healthcare workforce density currently stands at around 21 professionals per 10,000 people, significantly below the WHO benchmark of 44.5 per 10,000.

Saluja noted that discussions around healthcare careers often focus primarily on doctors and nurses, even though Allied and Healthcare Professionals account for nearly 60% of the healthcare workforce. These professionals—including laboratory technicians, radiographers, physiotherapists, operation theatre technicians, optometrists and other specialists—play an essential role in diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and patient care across the healthcare system.

He emphasised that the challenge is no longer identifying the shortage but developing a skilled workforce capable of meeting the country's expanding healthcare needs.

A major step towards this objective came with the implementation of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, which introduced standardised curricula, competency-based education and a common regulatory framework for allied healthcare programmes. The Union Budget 2026–27 further reinforced this direction by allocating ₹1,000 crore to strengthen India's healthcare workforce. While policy reforms have created the foundation, Saluja believes successful implementation will depend largely on the quality of education and practical training provided to students.

Although India's Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education continues to improve, employability remains a concern. Citing the India Skills Report 2025, Saluja observed that only about 55% of graduates are considered employable. Healthcare education faces similar challenges despite growing student interest. More than 22 lakh students registered for NEET-UG this year, but only a small proportion will secure MBBS seats, leaving millions of aspiring healthcare professionals searching for alternative career pathways.

He argued that allied healthcare education offers a significant opportunity to address this gap by expanding awareness of diverse healthcare careers beyond medicine and by equipping students with industry-relevant skills from the beginning of their academic journey.

Drawing on Virohan's experience in healthcare vocational education, Saluja said classroom instruction alone is insufficient for preparing future healthcare professionals. Instead, students benefit most from competency-based education, industry-designed curricula, technology-enabled practical training and continuous engagement with hospitals and employers. Training students on the same clinical protocols, workflows and equipment used in healthcare settings helps ensure a smoother transition into the workforce.

He stressed that employability should be embedded into the education process rather than treated as an outcome after graduation.

As India's healthcare infrastructure continues to expand, the focus is shifting from simply increasing the number of healthcare workers to developing professionals who are competent, industry-ready and capable of strengthening patient care from their very first day on the job. Allied healthcare education is increasingly being viewed as a strategic solution to bridge workforce gaps while creating meaningful career opportunities for the country's growing youth population.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have uncovered the molecular structure of EP67, a synthetic vaccine adjuvant that could help develop safer and more effective vaccine boosters. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study provides a near-atomic view of how the molecule activates the immune system while minimising excessive inflammation, opening new possibilities for vaccine and immunotherapy development.

The findings could contribute to the design of next-generation vaccines that generate stronger and longer-lasting immune responses with fewer inflammatory side effects.

Decoding how EP67 activates the immune system

EP67 is a synthetic peptide made of 10 amino acids, engineered from the naturally occurring immune protein C5a. While C5a can trigger strong inflammatory responses, EP67 has been designed to selectively activate dendritic cells and macrophages—key immune cells involved in initiating protective immunity—without stimulating neutrophils, which are associated with excessive inflammation.

Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at IIT Kanpur's National Cryo-EM Facility, researchers captured EP67 binding to the C5aR1 receptor in remarkable detail. The images revealed that the peptide folds into a distinctive hook-like shape, allowing it to fit precisely into the receptor and activate immune signalling.

Blueprint for future vaccine design

The structural insights provide researchers with a molecular blueprint for designing improved vaccine adjuvants. By understanding exactly how EP67 interacts with its receptor, scientists can now explore modifications to its amino acid sequence to enhance stability, effectiveness, and precision.

The C5aR1 receptor belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, one of the most important classes of drug targets, with approximately one-third of prescription medicines acting on GPCRs.

Potential beyond vaccines

In addition to improving vaccine boosters, EP67 has shown promise in pre-clinical animal studies by enhancing immune responses against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Researchers believe the molecule could eventually find applications in vaccines targeting infectious diseases as well as therapies that strengthen immune responses against difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.

Next steps

The IIT Kanpur team plans to continue pre-clinical studies to optimise EP67's formulation and dosage before evaluating its safety and effectiveness in human clinical trials.

Future research will also investigate its potential use in vaccine platforms for diseases such as COVID-19 and its broader role in combating antimicrobial resistance.

The study represents a significant advance in structural immunology, offering new insights that could support the development of safer vaccine boosters and next-generation immune therapies.

In a major reform aimed at reducing administrative delays and strengthening institutional autonomy, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that medical colleges and universities will now independently decide faculty appointments, promotions and designations. Under the new framework, the NMC will no longer issue routine eligibility certificates or intervene in standard faculty appointment cases, placing greater responsibility on institutions to implement the Medical Institutions Qualification of Faculty Regulations (MI-QFR) 2025.

The decision, announced through a public notice issued by the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), is expected to streamline faculty recruitment and promotion processes across medical colleges while reducing the regulatory burden on the Commission.

Medical colleges to take independent decisions

According to the NMC, a significant number of institutions had been referring routine eligibility cases to the Commission even though they could have been resolved under the existing regulations. These referrals included matters related to faculty appointments, promotions and designation changes that were already covered by the provisions of MI-QFR 2025.

To address this, the Commission has clarified that medical colleges, universities and other appointing authorities will now be responsible for determining whether candidates fulfil the eligibility criteria for faculty positions.

The NMC said institutions should evaluate candidates based on the provisions already laid down in the MI-QFR 2025 regulations, which specify the required academic qualifications, teaching experience, research publications, training requirements and other eligibility norms for faculty appointments and career progression.

As a result, the PGMEB will no longer examine cases that can be decided directly by institutions using the existing regulations.

NMC to step in only for exceptional cases

While routine cases will now be handled internally by institutions, the NMC will continue to consider complex or exceptional cases that involve ambiguity in interpreting the regulations.

Such cases may include disputes regarding the equivalence of qualifications, interpretation of transition provisions, or issues requiring coordination with other regulatory frameworks.

The Commission has clarified that these applications must be submitted only through the Dean, Director, Principal or Registrar of the concerned institution. Institutions must clearly identify the specific provision of the MI-QFR 2025 that requires clarification and provide all relevant supporting documents.

₹25,000 processing fee for special applications

For cases requiring NMC intervention, institutions must submit a processing fee of ₹25,000, along with the applicable 18% GST, making the total fee payable higher. The Commission has stated that this fee is non-refundable, irrespective of the outcome of the application.

The NMC has also made it clear that applications submitted directly by individual faculty members or candidates will not be accepted under normal circumstances.

However, an exception has been introduced to safeguard applicants. If a medical college or university fails to forward a genuine request to the NMC within 60 days of receiving it, the concerned candidate may apply directly to the PGMEB.

In such cases, the applicant must submit a signed declaration, proof that the institution failed to act within the stipulated period, all supporting documents and the prescribed processing fee. If the institution had already collected the fee from the candidate, it will be required to refund the amount.

New rules effective immediately

The Commission has announced that the revised procedure has come into force with immediate effect.

However, applications received by the NMC before July 16 will continue to be processed under the previous system, while all applications received on or after July 16 will be governed by the new guidelines.

The latest move is expected to accelerate faculty recruitment and promotion decisions by empowering institutions to implement the MI-QFR 2025 regulations independently, while allowing the NMC to focus on policy interpretation and complex regulatory issues rather than routine administrative approvals.

Not clearing NEET UG does not mean the end of a career in healthcare. While MBBS and BDS remain the most sought-after medical courses, the healthcare sector today offers several NEET-free undergraduate programmes that provide strong career prospects, attractive salaries and opportunities in hospitals, research institutions and the pharmaceutical industry.

With India's healthcare sector expanding rapidly, the demand for nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and biotechnology professionals continues to grow, creating diverse career pathways for Class 12 science students.

B.Sc. Nursing

One of the most popular alternatives to MBBS, B.Sc. Nursing is a four-year undergraduate programme that prepares students for careers in patient care, community health, intensive care units (ICUs) and hospital management.

Graduates can work in government and private hospitals, clinics, community health centres and overseas healthcare institutions. Freshers typically earn between ₹3 lakh and ₹6 lakh per annum, with higher salaries available through experience and international placements.

Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma)

Students interested in medicines and pharmaceutical sciences can opt for the four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma) programme. The course covers drug formulation, pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry and medication management.

Career opportunities include pharmacist, medical representative, clinical research associate, drug inspector and positions in pharmaceutical companies. Graduates can also establish their own medical stores after meeting regulatory requirements. Entry-level salaries generally range from ₹3.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh per annum.

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) is a 4.5-year programme that focuses on rehabilitation and physical therapy. Physiotherapists help patients recover from sports injuries, accidents, neurological disorders and post-surgical conditions through therapeutic exercises and rehabilitation techniques.

With increasing awareness of rehabilitation services, physiotherapists are in demand across hospitals, sports medicine centres and rehabilitation clinics. Starting salaries typically range from ₹3 lakh to ₹7 lakh annually.

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B.Sc. Biotechnology

For students interested in research and innovation, B.Sc. Biotechnology offers opportunities in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. This three-year programme covers genetic engineering, microbiology, molecular biology and drug development.

Graduates can find employment in research laboratories, biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organisations, with annual salaries ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹12 lakh, depending on skills, employer and specialisation.

Growing Opportunities Beyond MBBS

Education experts note that India's healthcare ecosystem increasingly relies on skilled allied health and paramedical professionals alongside doctors. As hospitals, diagnostic centres, pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms continue to expand, graduates from these programmes are expected to play a vital role in meeting the country's healthcare needs.

Students are advised to choose a course based on their interests, aptitude and long-term career goals rather than focusing solely on NEET results. With the right qualifications and continuous skill development, these alternative healthcare careers can offer rewarding professional growth and competitive salaries.

Mathematical modelling is becoming an increasingly important tool in public health, helping scientists and policymakers predict disease outbreaks, evaluate intervention strategies, and allocate healthcare resources more effectively. Speaking at a faculty development programme at Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Director T. N. Singh stressed that data-driven mathematical models are essential for understanding and controlling infectious diseases.

Predicting outbreaks and planning responses

Addressing participants at a six-day faculty development programme on "Mathematical Modelling of Diseases" under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre, Singh said mathematical models enable public health authorities to:

• Forecast the trajectory of epidemics.
• Estimate future healthcare demand.
• Optimise limited resources such as vaccine stockpiles and hospital capacity.
• Test intervention strategies virtually before implementing them in real-world settings.

Such simulations allow policymakers to assess the likely impact of measures like vaccination campaigns, lockdowns, or vector-control programmes without exposing populations to unnecessary risks.

Understanding how diseases spread

Singh explained that mathematical disease models combine multiple sources of information—including demographic, environmental and biological data—to better understand disease transmission.

He cited dengue as an example, noting that models can help researchers examine how factors such as climate change, rainfall patterns and temperature influence mosquito populations and disease spread. This enables health agencies to design more targeted prevention and surveillance strategies.

Linking modern science with India's mathematical heritage

Highlighting India's long tradition of mathematical thinking, Singh referred to ancient texts such as the Shulba Sutras and the Surya Siddhanta.

He noted that the precise calculation of the value of pi described in the Shulba Sutras and Aryabhata's geometric estimation of the distance between the Earth and the Sun illustrate the longstanding use of mathematical modelling in India.

Building interdisciplinary expertise

Programme coordinator Prashant K. Srivastava said the faculty development programme is designed to strengthen participants' analytical skills, research capabilities and understanding of mathematical disease modelling—an interdisciplinary field that brings together mathematics, epidemiology, biology, statistics and computer science.

Why mathematical modelling matters

The growing importance of mathematical modelling has been evident during recent global health emergencies, where predictive models have informed decisions on vaccination strategies, hospital preparedness and outbreak containment.

As emerging infectious diseases become increasingly influenced by factors such as climate change, urbanisation and global travel, expertise in mathematical modelling is expected to play an even larger role in supporting evidence-based public health planning and strengthening epidemic preparedness.

In a landmark initiative aimed at redefining healthcare leadership in India, Devi Shetty, Chairman and Founder of Narayana Health, has announced plans to establish the country's first nurse-led hospital, where nurses will take charge of operational management alongside their clinical responsibilities.

The upcoming smart, paperless hospital in Banashankari, Bengaluru, will introduce a new model of hospital governance by placing nurses at the centre of administrative decision-making, with the long-term goal of developing them into future hospital CEOs. The announcement was made through a video shared on Narayana Health's official social media platforms.

Unlike conventional hospitals, where nurses primarily focus on patient care, the new facility will enable them to oversee operational workflows, governance and management functions. The initiative seeks to recognise nurses not only as caregivers but also as leaders capable of driving healthcare institutions.

To prepare participants for these expanded responsibilities, Narayana Health will offer selected nurses a dual-benefit model. In addition to their regular clinical salary, they will receive management-linked incentives and be enrolled in an executive management programme at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. The specialised training is designed to equip nurses with leadership, finance, operations and strategic management skills required to lead modern healthcare organisations.

The programme is open to nurses with one to two years of professional experience, signalling a shift from seniority-based leadership to merit, ambition and leadership potential. According to Dr Shetty, the initiative aims to create opportunities for young nursing professionals to progress from bedside caregiving to boardroom leadership.

The announcement comes at a time when healthcare systems worldwide are increasingly recognising the critical role of nurses in improving patient outcomes, hospital efficiency and healthcare innovation. By combining clinical expertise with executive education, the initiative could redefine career pathways in India's nursing profession and strengthen leadership diversity within the healthcare sector.

If successful, the nurse-led hospital model could inspire similar reforms across hospitals in India, creating new opportunities for nursing professionals while demonstrating that healthcare leadership can extend well beyond the doctor's office to those who are often at the heart of patient care.