'Paramedical' terminology axed: Govt makes 'allied and healthcare' a must across India

According to the order passed by NCAHP, the move has been taken in order to bring uniformity in the terminology and align it with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act.

The Centre has officially instructed that henceforth, all states, union territories and the corresponding educational institutions should not use "Paramedical" and use "Allied and Healthcare" in all official communications, policies, advertisements and academic references, News18 has learnt.

This move comes in line with the provisions of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, which was enacted to standardize 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 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

While explaining the renaming, the circular accessed by News18 said, "The term 'Paramedical' has long been used to describe various healthcare-related professions providing support services in healthcare delivery. However, with the enactment of the NCAHP Act, 2021, the term 'Allied and Healthcare' has been formally adopted."

It is further advised to avoid the term 'Paramedical' and use the words 'Allied and Healthcare' instead in all the training programmes, recruitment notifications, advertisements, educational materials, and all forms of communication - verbal and written," the circular said.

The order issued to chief secretaries, principal secretaries and health secretaries of all states and union territories said the move has been taken to ensure uniformity in terminology and alignment with the Act.

It has also recommended that all state governments, UT administrations and institutions must comply with the immediate change in terminology at their training programmes, in recruitment notifications, in educational materials, advertisements and all forms of communications — both in words and in writing. "All state governments/UT administrations and institutions are, therefore, requested to comply with this change in nomenclature and also to circulate the same to all concerned authorities, institutions, and stakeholders under their jurisdiction," the order said. It marks, as the government official quoted above explains, a “significant 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" who will now be known by a better-recognised, standardised nomenclature under the “Allied and Healthcare\" category. "This change aligns them with international terminology and may facilitate career mobility and academic parity."