Stakeholders flag hurdles as Karnataka overhauls allied health courses

Mangaluru: Concerns over implementation, faculty readiness and infrastructure have emerged as Karnataka moves to overhaul allied health science courses in line with National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) guidelines from the 2026-27 academic year.Stakeholders have flagged lack of clarity on implementation, variations in infrastructure and faculty quality, and operational issues linked to the first licensing guidelines for allied health professionals.Karnataka has become the first state in the country to mandate statewide alignment of allied health science courses with NCAHP norms. Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has informed its affiliated colleges of the changes, directing them to rename allied health science courses and adopt revised undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.UT Iftikar Fareed, chairman of the Karnataka State Council for Allied and Healthcare, said the state was entering a major transition period. "Karnataka has the highest number of allied health institutions in the country, and moving first with statewide implementation makes the transition especially demanding," he said.The revised framework allows the introduction of new courses and specialisations, including applied psychology, medical and psychiatric social work, nuclear medicine, and new streams under Master of Physiotherapy and Master of Occupational Therapy programmes.Dr Sunitha Saldanha, dean at Yenepoya School of Allied Health Sciences and president of the Postgraduate Allied and Healthcare Education Board of the Karnataka State Council for Allied and Healthcare, said institutions lacking adequate manpower would face the greatest difficulty in adapting to the new norms. She said the guidelines would ultimately provide official recognition to allied health professionals.Pratijna Suhasini GR, principal of Mangala College of Allied Health and Para Medical Sciences, said colleges under RGUHS would have to navigate major changes in syllabi and grading systems, adding that faculty would require extensive upgradation.GFXWhat worries colleges* Lack of clarity on implementation* Infrastructure disparities* Availability of qualified faculty* Faculty upgradation needs* Operational issues tied to first licensing norms