NCAHP offers opportunity for uncertified health workers to certify identity

Lakhs of healthcare technicians and allied health workers in India who do not possess recognised qualifications will now be able to formalise their identity and continue their practice. This information has been provided in the draft rules published by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), which are currently open for responses and suggestions. According to a report by Mint, approximately 9,00,000 allied health workers, including medical laboratory technicians, radiographers, physiotherapists, and optometrists who hold non-recognised qualifications, will have to complete a bridge course and pass an examination to retain their right to practice. These workers constitute 60% of India's healthcare workforce.

The 'Provisional Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026', issued by the NCAHP under the Ministry of Health, outlines a transition path for employees who joined the sector before the NCAHP Act, 2021 came into effect. The objective of this law is to regulate the standards of 56 allied healthcare professions falling under 10 recognised categories, including trauma care, radiology, physiotherapy, and medical lab sciences, to standardise education and maintain central and state registers.

According to the document, practitioners who have experience prior to the Act and matriculation qualification can apply for provisional registration through state councils by paying a fee of ₹2,000. Verified applications will be granted a provisional certificate valid for three years, with a possible extension of one year. To obtain permanent registration, they must complete a recognised bridge course of six months to one year, fulfill supervised clinical hours, and pass a qualifying examination. The document clarifies that completing the bridge course will only provide regulatory registration, limiting their practice to India, and will not grant any academic degree or diploma.

Dr. Chandrakant Lahria, Senior Consultant and Physician at Pacific OneHealth Hospital, New Delhi, stated, "The implementation of the bridge course should be practical, affordable, and especially accessible in small towns, while ensuring that the certification actually translates into clinical competence." He added that accurate diagnosis and quality patient care depend on allied healthcare professionals as much as they do on doctors. According to Dr. Lahria, formal training and certification will increase the reliability of laboratory tests, imaging, and clinical procedures, thereby reducing errors and unnecessary repeated tests. However, he noted that qualification alone is not enough; continuous training and institutional quality must be ensured.

Most allied employees in India are appointed through private placements, staffing agencies, and temporary state contracts after receiving training from non-recognised regional institutions. Due to the lack of a central legislative register and unified standards, it was difficult for hospitals to establish formal service cadres and pay-bands, leaving thousands on contract roles without career progression or job security. An official familiar with the matter stated that obtaining registration will give these professionals legal status and they will not need to re-enroll in multi-year degree courses. For patients, this process will eliminate substandard care and diagnostic reporting errors, as technicians handling critical equipment such as dialysis, radiation therapy, and pathology analysis will now meet verified national clinical standards.