QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION IN ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS

Abstract

The rapidly evolving healthcare sector has increased the demand for competent allied health professionals capable of delivering safe, ethical, and patient-centered care. Allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, laboratory technologists, nutritionists, and rehabilitation specialists, play a significant role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. However, the rapid expansion of allied healthcare education has raised concerns regarding variations in curriculum, infrastructure, faculty competency, clinical training, and professional regulation. These challenges highlight the need for effective quality assurance and accreditation systems in allied health programs. This chapter discusses the importance of quality assurance and accreditation in maintaining educational standards, patient safety, institutional accountability, and continuous quality improvement. It explains the role of regulatory and accreditation bodies such as the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) in strengthening allied healthcare education in India. The chapter also highlights recent trends in healthcare education, including competency-based education, outcome-based learning, simulation-based training, interprofessional education, digital learning, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based practice. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significance of implementing the NCAHP Act, 2021 for developing a skilled, ethical, and future-ready allied healthcare workforce capable of meeting emerging healthcare challenges.