NCAHP replaces ‘Paramedical’ with ‘Allied and Healthcare’; urges change in institutional titles

The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession has urged universities and colleges to discontinue the use of ‘Paramedical’ in all official communications, policies, and training programmes.

Centre drops the term paramedical and adopts 'Allied and Healthcare'. (Representational image: Wikimedia Commons)
Centre drops the term paramedical and adopts 'Allied and Healthcare'. (Representational image: Wikimedia Commons)

Anu Parthiban | July 2, 2025 | 10:05 AM IST

In a move to standardize medical terminology, the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession (NCAHP) has recommended discontinuing the term “paramedical” for describing various healthcare-related professions. Instead, it has formally adopted "Allied and Healthcare" to recognise these professions.

The ministry of health and family welfare established a regulatory body — National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession (NCAHP) — in 2021 for 56 professions under 10 categories.

“With the enactment of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act,ZOZL, the term "Allied and Healthcare" has been formally adopted to define, standardize, and recognize these professions under a unified framework,” the official statement read.

The commission urged all state governments, Union Territories (UTs), universities and colleges to discontinue the use of ‘Paramedical’ in all official communications, policies, advertisement, and training programmes.

It also instructed changing the use of the term in institutional titles, recruitment notification, educational materials, and any other government-related documents or portal.

Also read Allied health sciences, paramedical courses plagued by fake ‘councils’ running across states

10 categories under NCAHP Act

The term ‘paramedical’ has been used to describe various healthcare-related professions that provide support services in healthcare delivery. The 10 categories under NCAHP Act are given below.

  • Medical Laboratory and Life Sciences
  • Trauma, Burn Care and Surgical/ Anesthesia related technology
  • Physiotherapy Professional
  • Nutrition Science Professional
  • Ophthalmic Sciences Professional
  • Occupational Therapy Professional
  • Community Care, Behavioural Health Sciences and other Professionals
  • Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology Professional
  • Medical Technologists and Physician Associate
  • Health Information Management and Health Informatic Professional.

In an effort to bring uniformity in 10 allied and healthcare professions, the Centre in April published new syllabi, which will be mandatorily implemented from the year 2026.

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