Allied Health Professionals Pakistan
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Allied Health Professionals are health care professionals that work in health care teams to make the health care system function by providing a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic, and direct patient care and support services. Allied Health Professionals are involved with the delivery of health services related to the identification, evaluation, and prevention of diseases. They also provide nutritional and rehabilitation services.[1]
Include Professions
Allied Health Professionals include: Medical Laboratory Technologists, Medical Technologists, Operation Theater technologists, Radiography and Imaging Technologists, Emergency Medical Technologists, Dental Hygienists, Audiologists, Anesthesia Technologists, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Perfusionists, Radiographers, Respiratory Therapists, Speech-language pathologists, and many others.[2][3]
Allied Health Professionals and Paramedics
In Pakistan, there are two categories in the health care system:
- Technologist
- Technicians[4]
In Pakistan, people mix the term Allied Health Professionals with Paramedics (technicians). Paramedics are those who get a two-year Diploma after their matriculation examination. These diplomas of certain fields are issued by Punjab Medical Faculty.[5]
While Allied Health Professionals (technologist) are those who get degrees after passing FSc Pre-Medical. These degrees (equal to Masters) are issued by certain medical colleges and HEC recognized universities across the country. Even M.Phil. and PhD programs are offered in Allied Health sciences. Every year, thousands of graduates are passing from different universities and medical colleges.[6]
Merit System
The same as MBBS and BDS, there is a strict merit system in order to get admission in Allied Health Professionals degree programs. The scheme of studies of these programs are up to date and meet the criteria of International standards[7]
Conflict between Doctor Community and Allied Health Professionals
Allied Health Professional degree programs are introduced in Pakistan to minimize the burdens of doctors. Allied Health Professionals think that MBBS doctors are receiving commissions from almost every field of Health system, including Laboratories, X-Ray centers, etc. That’s why they are not accepting AHPs wholeheartedly. But doctor communities have always denied these allegations [8]
Council for Allied Health Professionals
It is a regulatory body whose purpose is to regularize the AHPs and issue a license to work independently. Most developed countries have approved regulatory bodies that recognize Allied Health Professionals and issue a license to practice and utilize their skills according to their job description to benefit people.
Still, in Pakistan, there is no regulatory body for AHPs; that’s why the health care commission in Pakistan declared them as “Quacks,” and it cannot allow them to work independently within their professional scope.
Thousands of graduates are jobless due to the non-availability of any vacancy in Hospitals. The government is also not taking any notice of it.
Moreover, due to the absence of a regulatory body or license-issuing authority, AHPs face difficulties while working in foreign countries.
In May 2018, Ex-Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved the act of the Allied Health Professional[9] council, but they didn’t introduce this in the parliament due to elections.
Recently, in September 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the act again, but due to severe opposition from the Doctors community, no further work has been done on it.
Movement about AHP Council
Society of Allied Health Professionals, Medical Laboratory Technologists Association of Pakistan[10] and many other independent organizations are working for the rights of Allied Health Professionals. An online petition has also been filed by a person on change.org. The main agenda of these organizations is to approve a regulatory body called "Pakistan Allied Health Professionals Council."
References
- ↑ "What is Allied Health?". ASAHP. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ "Surgical Technologist". ExploreHealthCareers.org. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ "University of Health Sciences – For World Class Professionals". Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ "Healthcare Technician vs. Technologist". All Allied Health Schools. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ "PPHA". www.ppha.punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ Cahsp. "Definition Of Allied Health Professionals – Cahsp". Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ University, King Edward Medical. "Admission-Undergraduates | King Edward Medical University". Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ "Paramedics oppose health professional council act". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ "Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, Pakistan". pmo.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ↑ "MLTAP (Medical Laboratory Technologists Association of Pakistan)". mltap.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
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