NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harshavardhan lauded the Village Volunteers for their dedicated services during the COVID epidemic in Andhra Pradesh. He stated this during a debate in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday over the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill 2021, citing the efforts of the volunteer system established by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He appreciated YSRCP Anakapalli MP Dr. BV Satyavathi's suggestion that this was the right time to strengthen the future health sector. Earlier in the debate on the bill, the YSRCP MP had explained the services rendered by the Village Volunteers in AP during the Corona crisis. She also suggested that tough measures be taken to deal with future medical emergencies in the country.

The Parliament on Wednesday passed the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2021. The Bill seeks to set up a National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions to regulate and standardize the education and practice of allied and healthcare professionals. The functions of the proposed National Commission include framing of standards for education and practice, creating and maintaining an online Central Register of all registered professionals, providing basic standards of education, and providing for a uniform entrance and exit examination. Under the legislation, only those enrolled in a State Register or the National Register as a qualified allied and healthcare practitioner would be allowed to practice as a allied and healthcare practitioner.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the legislation will increase employment opportunities for the allied and healthcare professionals and provide dignity to their valuable works.

During another debate YSRCP Kakinada MP Vanga Geeta asked the Centre to take steps to ensure that the Disha Law brought by the AP government is implemented at the earliest. She was speaking during a debate in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday on the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. She said that AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy responded like a brother in the wake of the incident and that the Disha Bill was codified to handle such cases. She also suggested that psychologists be made available to take classes in Anganwadi Centres to promote mental health for pregnant women. Responding to the discussion, Smriti Irani, Minister for Women and Child Welfare, welcomed Vanga Geeta's suggestion.