A historic step was taken today towards making health education in Uttarakhand modern, transparent, and employment-oriented, in line with national standards. Under the clear directives and visionary leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the guidance of Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, a high-level meeting was held at the Secretariat to expedite the formation of the Uttarakhand State Allied and Healthcare Council under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. This important meeting was chaired by Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar. At the outset, the Health Secretary stated that developing a modern, trained, and certified allied health workforce is crucial in a mountainous and disaster-prone state like Uttarakhand. The formation of the Council will not only enhance the quality of educational institutions but will also position Uttarakhand to play a leading role in developing trained human resources across the country.
*Detailed discussion on the formation of the Council, decision to form a selection committee*
The meeting included extensive discussions on the formation of the Council, its structure, future needs, and working systems. It was decided that a “Search-cum-Selection Committee” would be formed to appoint the Chairperson and members of the Council, which would select candidates based on the prescribed qualifications and experience. The Health Secretary directed officials to immediately ensure the availability of the initial budget, office infrastructure, technical support, and human resources for the smooth functioning of the Council, so that the Council could commence discharging its responsibilities soon.
Currently, paramedical education in the state is governed by the Uttarakhand Paramedical Act-2009 and the State Medical Faculty. There are courses in 22 subjects at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. With the implementation of the national Act, all these courses will be made more standardized, employment-oriented, and skill-based. The new Act recognizes 56 types of health services in a total of 10 categories. This will not only provide students with broader career opportunities but also lead to higher recognition of their qualifications at the national and international levels.
*Health Services Will Be Strengthened*
Experts at the meeting stated that the Act will include several new and important subjects—nutrition science, health information management, clinical psychology, dialysis technician, anesthesia and operation theater technician, emergency medical technician, etc. The inclusion of these subjects will provide the state’s youth with broader career options, better placements in the private and government sectors, and opportunities in research and advanced healthcare. Officials stated that this move will position Uttarakhand among the leading states in the country in the field of health education and allied health services, establishing the state as a “health education hub” in the future.
*Statement by Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar*
The Uttarakhand government is committed to strengthening, streamlining, and aligning health education with national standards. The formation of the State Allied and Healthcare Council will be a transformative step. It will bring uniformity to paramedical and allied health education, standardize curriculum, and simplify and simplify and make the registration and licensing process extremely transparent. The new Act will cover many emerging disciplines and specializations, providing youth with the opportunity to become nationally competitive. Our goal is for Uttarakhand to emerge as a model state for quality-based health education and healthcare skill development
