Government Plans Massive Expansion of Allied Healthcare Training in India

The Government of India is preparing a large-scale expansion of allied healthcare education and caregiver training as part of its broader strategy to strengthen the country’s healthcare ecosystem and develop a robust care economy. Officials outlined the plan during post-Budget webinars held on Monday following announcements in the Union Budget 2026-27.

According to government officials, the initiative will focus on faculty development, programme design, and a phased expansion of allied healthcare training programmes across the country. The goal is to significantly increase the number of trained professionals who support doctors, nurses, and hospitals in delivering healthcare services.

The government aims to add 100,000 allied healthcare professionals (AHPs) over the next five years to improve the accessibility, quality, and sustainability of allied healthcare services nationwide.

Strengthening India’s Allied Healthcare Education System

Addressing the concluding session of the webinar, VK Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog, highlighted the need to strengthen the country’s existing institutions that train allied healthcare professionals.

India currently has a large but uneven ecosystem of training institutes.

• More than 500 government institutes offer approximately 48,000 seats.

• Around 3,800 private institutes collectively provide over 360,000 seats.

However, these institutions vary widely in terms of infrastructure, laboratory facilities, equipment availability, and the number of trained faculty members.

“There is a need to ensure uniform standards across all the institutes as laid down by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021,” Paul added.

The government therefore plans to focus on improving quality and standardisation across both public and private institutions.

Key Disciplines Targeted for Upgradation

As part of the strategy announced in the Union Budget, the government plans to upgrade institutions focusing on ten selected allied healthcare disciplines.

Priority Training Areas

The targeted fields include:

• Optometry

• Radiology

• Anaesthesia

• Operation Theatre (OT) technology

• Emergency medical technology

• Occupational therapy

• Applied psychology and behavioural health

• Palliative care

These disciplines are considered critical to improving hospital services, diagnostics, and patient care across India’s healthcare system.

Plan to Train 150,000 Caregivers

In addition to expanding allied healthcare education, the Centre is planning a major initiative to increase the number of trained caregivers in the country.

The government aims to train 150,000 caregivers in the coming year through a wide range of skill development programmes aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).

Developing a National Caregiver Training Pathway

Officials said the government is working toward building a National Caregiver Training Pathway that will create standardised training programmes across multiple care sectors.

This framework will be aligned with standards set by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), ensuring consistent skill certification and training quality.

The programmes will combine core caregiving skills with allied healthcare competencies, preparing workers for roles in hospitals, home healthcare, elderly care, rehabilitation, and community health services.

Government Schemes Supporting Caregiver Training

Highlighting the importance of the care economy for India’s growth, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said that the government has already made progress in expanding training programmes.

“Over 35,000 caregivers have been trained in the last three years through the Centre’s various schemes.”

These schemes include:

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)

• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)

These initiatives aim to equip workers with practical skills that can help meet the rising demand for healthcare services.

Expanding Training Through ITIs and Polytechnics

To achieve the ambitious target of training 150,000 caregivers, the government plans to utilise a wide network of training institutions across the country.

Institutions Supporting the Training Push

Officials said the following institutions will play a key role:

• Jan Shikshan Sansthan centres

• Polytechnics

• Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)

These institutions will help scale up training capacity and ensure access to skill development programmes in both urban and rural areas.

Care Economy Offers Opportunities for Women

Another major objective of the initiative is to expand employment opportunities, particularly for women.

According to Minister Jayant Chaudhary, the care economy holds significant potential for increasing women’s participation in the workforce, as caregiving roles are often performed by women worldwide.

By formalising training and certification, the government hopes to create new career pathways while improving wages, job security, and recognition for caregiving roles.

Linking Education With the Real Economy

Speaking during the post-Budget webinar, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, emphasised the importance of aligning education and skill development with the needs of the real-world economy.

He called for accelerating efforts to connect academic institutions with emerging economic sectors while strengthening education in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence and automation.

Modi also stressed that fulfilling the aspirations of citizens remains a key priority for the government.

“fulfilling the aspirations of the people is the resolve of his government and education, skill development, health, tourism, sports, and culture are some of the sectors that act as a medium to fulfil them.”

Conclusion

India’s push to train 100,000 allied healthcare professionals and 150,000 caregivers represents a significant step toward strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure and developing a structured care economy. By upgrading institutions, standardising training programmes, and expanding skill development schemes, the government aims to address the growing demand for healthcare services while creating employment opportunities.

With the ageing population, rising healthcare needs, and increasing demand for home-based care, these initiatives could play a crucial role in ensuring better healthcare access across the country while supporting India’s long-term economic and social development.