Paramedical Council Act in the Offing for Indian Capital

A Paramaedical Council Act is being contemplated for the Indian capital of New Delhi. The new council to be set up will have the power to accredit paramedics.

Officials said the relevant bill would be tabled in the New Delhi Assembly shortly.

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“There is no Act or Council to regulate the hiring or functioning of paramedics, whether in the city or country. There is no way of ascertaining the work record or conduct of a particular paramedic,” the official noted.

The proposed Council will accredit operation theatre (OT) technicians, OT assistants, laboratory technicians, laboratory assistants, X-Ray technicians, ECG technicians, darkroom assistants and Central Sterilisation Department assistants. All institutions will have to register with the Council that will issue certificates only after professionals have worked for fixed period.

“The need for this council was felt, as we need to hire at least 1,000 paramedics in the next year. There are over 350 posts of paramedics open. Also, the 110 ambulances we are going to acquire will require six such paramedics in each vehicle,” said the official.

The official was referring to the increased emergency facilities that would be required as preparations begin for the Commonwealth games to be hosted by New Delhi in October 2010.

The government is also planning to protect doctors from aggrieved patients and their relatives.

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Andhra Pradesh in southern India recently passed an ordinance to protect doctors after a series of incidents in which doctors were set upon by relatives of patients who died despite treatment.

Doctors there went on an indefinite strike demanding appropriate measures to ensure their security.

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Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, “We have a lot of hospitals in the city and these moves are aimed at improving facilities. We have asked for a copy of the Andhra Pradesh Ordinance as they have already done something to contain violence against doctors,” said Dikshit.

Source-Medindia
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