KOCHI: With the Kerala Paramedical Council registration being made mandatory to apply for PSC vacancies, tens of thousands of paramedical-qualified people's dream of a government job has been dashed. PSC made registration mandatory for the first time a week ago in the notification calling for three Lab Technician (Dialysis) vacancies. As registration will be mandatory for foreign jobs as well, lakhs of students who have taken loans to study in institutions not recognized by the council and who have completed their studies are worried.

Only students of institutions affiliated with the Kerala University of Health Science and Institutions recognized by the Council will get registration. Those who have paid heavy fees for diploma, degree and PG paramedical courses that have been conducted for years in prominent hospitals in Kerala are also disappointed. Those who have studied in other states can get registration only after producing an equivalency certificate from Health University.

In 2021, when the government order made the council registration mandatory, the candidates approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, but the case was not considered as the PSC notification had not come out. Since the notification has come out now, the case in the High Court may have to be transferred to the Tribunal again.

The Paramedical Council was started in 2002 to set and enforce quality standards for courses and institutions.

Reason for the crisis

The absence of a Paramedical Council at the national level is at the root of the registration problem. Even though the central system called National Health Allied Professionals Commission came into existence in 2022, the registration problems will be solved only after the formation of the state components.

"Paramedical education in the country is just taking shape scientifically. Affiliation and registration issues in Kerala will be resolved within a few years. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure approval of courses.'

-Ashraf Perilacode

Former Nodal Officer, Kerala Paramedical Council

"Just as the Medical Council conducts the qualifying examination for foreign MBBS candidates, the Paramedical Council should also take similar decision. It is the life problem of tens of thousands of candidates.'

-VT Kiran, candidate