Wednesday, Jul 09, 2025 17:30 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Jul 09, 2025 00:31 [IST]
GANGTOK, : The Sikkim Government Para Medical Association (SGPMA), in
collaboration with the Sikkim State Allied and Healthcare Professional Council
(SSA&HCPC), announced that following the enactment of the National
Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, the official
designation for para medical workers will now be “Allied and Healthcare
Professionals.”
Addressing
a press conference here on Tuesday, SGPMA president Kishore Thapa stated that
the para medical cadre in Sikkim was established in 1998 and has not undergone
any review in the past 25-26 years.
Despite
playing a crucial yet often overlooked role in public health and patient care, it
feels unjust when no promotion or pay scale revisions take place, he said.
However,
under the guidance of Health minister G.T. Dhungel, a forum was formed to draft
a new cadre review policy, which has already been submitted to the departments
of Personnel and Finance, said the SGPMA president. We are hopeful that the State
government will approve this policy soon, recognizing the tireless
contributions of para medical workers to public healthcare, he expressed.
He
further noted that the association continues to pursue a revision of the para
medical pay matrix, which remains an unresolved concern.
Thapa
also informed that July 8 is celebrated as International Para Medical Day, with
various activities held across districts and hospitals to mark the occasion.
The State-level celebration will take place on July 19, and it will be the
final celebration held under the banner of SGPMA, as the State transitions to a
new regulatory structure under the national act. We hope the upcoming
celebration brings positive news for all para medics in the State through the
long-awaited cadre review, he added.
Dr.Bimal
Nepal, representing the SSA&HCPC, stated that while the council had already
been constituted, approval of its operating rules by the State cabinet was
received only recently. He expressed gratitude to the Health minister and secretary
for facilitating this milestone.
Dr.
Nepal pointed out that until now para medical professionals in India have
operated without a unified system of national or State-level registration. With
the 2021 Act now in place, a National Commission and corresponding State
Councils will be responsible for registering qualified professionals and
accredited institutes offering allied and healthcare courses.
All
institutions providing allied and healthcare education must now register
through the National Commission's website, he said, appealing for compliance
ahead of full implementation.
Once
fully established, the State Council will have the authority to curb unethical
practices by unregistered practitioners and enforce disciplinary action as per
the defined rules.
The
two organisations expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister PS Golay for the
formation of the State Council for the welfare of the State para medics.
Regarding
individual registrations, Dr. Nepal said the State process will commence once
the national commission releases detailed guidelines. Registration is crucial
as it will allow para medics to practice not just in India but globally, an
opportunity that has not existed until now, he noted.
The
commission has also approved updated curricula for 10 para medical subjects, to
be adopted by the academic year 2025–26. Full compliance will be mandatory by
the 2026–27 session.
The
press conference was attended by executive members of the SGPMA and
SSA&HCPC.