NCAHP regulations create digital professional registers and new quality-assurance bodies for allied healthcare

The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions announced a set of regulations and standards on 7 October covering registration, institutional quality assurance and education in allied healthcare professions.

The Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations establish State and Central Registers with online systems, Unique Identification numbers and QR-coded certificates. Registration is valid for five years and renewal is linked to Continuing Professional Development. Where a functional State Council does not exist, eligible professionals may register directly with the Central Register.

Separate regulations provide for Autonomous Boards and a Central Assessment Committee to support education standards, institutional assessment, professional ethics and registration. The Commission also notified a competency-based two-year Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology that includes a six-month clinical internship.

For civil-services preparation, the reform illustrates professional regulation beyond doctors and nurses. Public registers can improve verification and mobility, but implementation depends on State Councils, recognition of qualifications, data synchronisation and consistent assessment. Notification of regulations is the legal framework; institutional performance must be evaluated separately.