Government Initiatives for Allied Healthcare Workforce Strengthening
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented comprehensive measures to strengthen India's allied healthcare workforce through statutory regulation and substantial financial allocation. The government enacted the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, establishing a robust statutory mechanism for regulating 57 recognized categories of allied and healthcare professions. Under this framework, the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession has finalized 18 competency-based curriculums to standardize professional education across the sector.
Implementation Progress and Digital Infrastructure
Significant progress has been made in implementation, with online enrolment portals for professionals and institutions made operational in October 2024 to facilitate comprehensive central and state-level workforce mapping. At the state level, 29 States and Union Territories have constituted State Allied and Healthcare Councils specifically for the implementation and execution of provisions under the NCAHP Act, 2021, ensuring decentralized governance of the regulatory framework.
Budgetary Allocation and Workforce Expansion
In response to evolving demands for Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs) in the healthcare ecosystem, the Central Government announced in Budget 2026 the addition of 100,000 AHPs over the next five years. To support this initiative, an amount of ₹1,000 Crore has been allocated in the current year for the Scheme for Allied Health Care Professionals, representing substantial government investment in workforce development. The assessment and management of health workforce requirements is described as an ongoing and dynamic process carried out in coordination with State Governments and Union Territories based on evolving public health needs.