Beyond NEET: Allied Health Professions - an emerging and viable career options

Vijay Garg
Contd from previous issue
They contribute to the delivery of health related services for evaluation identification and prevention of disorders. Rehabilitation and health system management studies intimated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHFW) indicate that demand for allied health care professionals is significantly higher than supply. India would need 6.5 million allied health professionals by the year 2024. The need for these health care professionals has now been realized by our Government and strategies are in place to use their services. Delivery of health care is increasingly becoming complex with the growing burden of diseases. The success of many health care activities requires the support of skilled and competent professionals. It is now a team effort drawing upon the expertise of both clinicians and non clinicians. The professional and health care providers were earlier known as Paramedical Staff at the basic level are now called allied health professionals. Their qualification could range from diploma to PhD degrees in various specialties. Today there is a need for competent professionals who can handle highly sophisticated equipment.
Range of Expertise : After a medical or surgical line of treatment certain conditions need intensive rehabilitation for holistic treatment. It is here that allied health professionals like physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, dialysis technologist, medical technologist, radiology technologist etc have a vital role to play. In the UK more than 84,000 AHP’s with the range of skills and expertise play key roles within the National health services. Australia’s Health system is managed not just by their doctors and nurses but also by the 90,000 university qualified and trained AHPs. According to the US Bureau of labor statistics AHP’s come under seven of the top ten fastest growing occupations. Passing of National allied and health care professional’s Bill in the Parliament and the creation of a National council for allied health professions augurs well for the future professional in terms of job opportunities, recognition and pay packages in India.