India launches competency-based curricula for allied health

It focuses on 10 allied and healthcare professions.

India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched competency-based curricula for 10 allied and healthcare professions.

The curricula, launched in partnership with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, will cover physiotherapy, applied psychology and behavioural health, optometry, nutrition and dietetics, and dialysis therapy technology and dialysis therapy.

It will also include radiotherapy technology, medical radiology and imaging technology, anaesthesia and operation theatre technology, health information management, and physician associates.

In her inaugural speech, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the professions play a significant 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,” Srivastava said.

She added that digital modules will be crowd-sourced and made widely accessible to support capacity building and promote the ‘Swastha Bharat’ initiative.