Scope of Paramedical Education in India

Healthcare sector is a predominant sector. It acts as the backbone in shaping the economic condition of the nation. Medical courses are one of the most sought-after courses in India. Every year, lakhs of candidates apply for admission to medical disciplines. Several top-level institutions are also offering these healthcare and medical courses.
Though the demand for medical courses is high, the admission process for same is rigorous and highly competitive. The course fees are also significantly high, especially in Private colleges. Aspirants have to sit for several competitive and tough national-level entrance exams like IPU CET, NEET UG, and PG, JIPMER, etc. There are huge employment opportunities in this sector even without conventional medical courses. In the modern world, Paramedical Science has emerged as an integral part of the healthcare sector in India. 
The scope of Paramedical courses is huge. The average cost of these courses is much less than the mainstream medical course. Professional graduates of paramedical courses are also known as ‘allied health forces’ and their major job role includes assisting other medical professionals in dealing with emergency medical situations. This branch of medical science deals with the diagnosis and treatment of various health problems and diseases using diagnostic tools, clinical labs, ultrasound, X-rays, etc.

Type of Paramedical Courses in India

The Paramedical courses are offered at several academic levels. The different levels of Paramedical courses are listed below

Certificate Paramedical Courses - the duration of the certification course varies depending on the subject matter. Ideally, the average course duration  is 1 to 2 years. Average course fee lies within the range of INR 10,000 to INR 45,000. Some certificate courses are X-Ray/Radiology Assistant (technician), MRI Technician, Ophthalmic Assistant, ECG assistant, Dental Assistant, Operation Theater Assistant, and Dialysis Technician.

Diploma Paramedical Courses - For the working professionals of the nursing discipline, completing a diploma degree in Paramedical courses, is the best option. This degree acts as a great upskill for them. The duration of Diploma Paramedical courses ranges from 1 year to 2 years. Some of the great choices for completing a Diploma in Paramedical courses are a Diploma in Hearing Language and Speech, a Diploma in Operation Theatre Technology, Diploma in Sanitary Inspection, Diploma in Medical Record Technology, Diploma in Radiography and Medical Imaging, Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology and Diploma in Physiotherapy.  

Bachelor Paramedical Courses - Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Paramedical courses make candidates highly qualified. Ir talks about Anatomy and Physiology, which are vital knowledge for Paramedical professionals. The duration of an undergraduate degree typically lasts up to 3 - 4 years. Some of the best options for students to complete their bachelor's degree in paramedical courses are Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, B.Sc. in Ophthalmic Technology, B.Sc. in Medical Record Technology, B.Sc. in Speech Therapy, B.Sc. in Dialysis Technology and B.Sc. in Radiography and Medical Imaging. 

Master Paramedical Courses - Those who wish to gain extensive knowledge in the paramedical field, can apply for a master's degree. The duration of this course is 2 years. After completing a postgraduate degree, students are eligible for higher designations and can also complete their research degree in a similar or relevant subject.   

Scope of Paramedical Education in India

The recent globalization of education in India resulted in the promotion of the country’s privatization and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to fulfill the need for medical job-oriented training and courses. Hence, the need for efficient and skilled personnel has increased in the Paramedical sector. India is a developing country. Every city is witnessing a surge in the introduction and constant development of its healthcare facilities. As a consequence, the healthcare sector is witnessing a significant gap between the availability and need of skilled Paramedics. Therefore, the scope of Paramedical Education in India is immense.

In such a situation, it is important for aspirants to understand where the future of Paramedical Education in India stands. This article deals with a comparison between the current scenario of Paramedical Science and its future challenges. Here, we will also discuss the shortcomings in the education system and how the curriculum can be improved to achieve higher standards.

Paramedical Education in India: Current Scenario

Every year, lakhs of students opt for over 33 paramedical courses in more than 460 paramedical colleges in India. In recent years, the globe has faced a paradigm shift in concepts and their implementation in paramedical training. Where previously, paramedics were primarily meant for emergency care, are now highly trained and skilled professionals who work on handling specific medical situations, be it in a hospital or field.
Paramedical education in India is in a state of flux. This discipline deals with multiple fields of medical education, where each is unique in its requirements. This demands rapid changes in course materials but many formal universities do not keep up with the pace, making the courses outdated. This is reflected in the poor quality of certificate and degree courses in paramedics.

Shortage of Paramedical Work Force in India

Despite the Indian Government adopting measures to bridge the skill gap in this sector, the shortage of paramedical workforce in India remains ubiquitous. The growing number of hospitals in the country are complaining about the manpower crunch in the healthcare sector. A study by the Public Health Foundation of India in 2012 stated that India faced a shortage of 1.27 lakh optometrists and ophthalmologists, 8.5 lakh anesthetists, 61,000 medical laboratory technicians, 18 lakh rehabilitation specialists, 7400 speech-language specialists and audiologists, 19,000 radiographers and about 2.3 lakh medical technology workers.
The looming crisis is the consequence of inadequate infrastructure and staff. When students step into the professional world, they get hit by the lack of clinical experience during graduation. Several private colleges are established without proper infrastructure and the limited number of seats against a cut-throat competition in government colleges leaves students with no choice but to go for private colleges. It is essential for the future of Paramedical education in India that both the private and public sectors join hands to better the availability of skilled and efficient manpower in the sector.

What is the Way Forward to a Better Future?

In the year 2015, a spot survey was conducted to elicit the suggestions of medical students and teachers, which are summarized below.

• Medical training should be made more patient-centered.
• Redundant information from the curriculum should be excluded.
• Presently, the entrance exams divert students’ focus by promoting a parallel curriculum. They should be modified.
• Improve the health care delivery by empowering future physicians to usher towards the changes.
• Medical education needs to be more diverse.
• The concept of a ‘Medical School Without Walls’ should be introduced by including MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses).
• The outcome-based approach must be implemented efficiently to shorten student training.
• Teach new content in the health care delivery sciences and encourage graduates to comprehend how the systems work.
• Support effective and efficient learning by creating technology solutions.

Top Paramedical Colleges in India

While there is still uncertainty in the future of Paramedical education in India, finding yourself the best college may become a daunting task. To make it easier for you, we have come up with a single application form to apply for multiple Paramedical colleges of your dream. All you have to do is fill out our Common Application Form and you will be provided with experts to guide you throughout the admission process. To avail of instant counselling for FREE, dial our toll-free number - 1800-572-9877.

A list of top colleges in India offering Paramedical courses is mentioned below. 

Conclusion

Paramedical Science is considered the backbone of medical science. Without the right diagnosis of a disease, its prevention is not possible. With the advancement in medical treatment and its modes and rising demand for automation, diagnosis, and new life support systems, paramedical professionals will be in high demand.
In the upcoming decades, India will have enhanced and increased its infrastructural capacity to cater to the needs of the Indian healthcare industry. With the escalation in the number of hospital beds, it is estimated that each bed will be accounting for about 5 direct and 25 indirect job opportunities in the sector. This is a clear indication that the healthcare sector in India will be dominating the economy in the future creating huge opportunities for paramedical professionals in the job market.

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