Quality healthcare services act

THE ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS COUNCIL ACT, 2022   I apologize, but as of my last knowledge update in January 2022, I do not have information on the “Allied Health Professionals Council Act, 2022” as it falls beyond my knowledge cutoff date. If this act was enacted after that date, I would not have access to its specific content or details. To learn more about the “Allied Health Professionals Council Act, 2022,” I recommend referring to official government sources, legal databases, or consulting with legal experts who have access to the most up-to-date information on legislation in Pakistan. They can provide you with the relevant content and legal context for this act, as well as its implications and applications within the healthcare and allied health professions in Pakistan.   _____________ CONTENTS Short title, extent commencement. Definitions. Establishment of the Council. Power and functions of the Council. Restrictions on nominations. Term of office of the members. Meeting of the Council. President and Vice President. Advisory Committees of the Council. Functions of the advisory committee. Officers and servants of the Council. Recognition of institution imparting basic or higher qualification. Recognition of foreign qualifications. Recognition of continuous professional development opportunity providers. Reciprocal recognition of qualification. Page 2 of 19 Registration of Allied Health Professionals whose qualification may be considered recognized qualification. Licensing and Rights of Licensees. Institutions to furnish information required by the Council. Inspection of institution. Maintenance of the register. Procedure for registration. Removal of name from the register. Disqualification for registration. Prohibition of employment of and practice by un-registered AHP. Penalty for offenses. Appeal. Cognizance by court. Complaints. Procedure of inquiry. Directions as to apparatus, appliance, equipment or products. Action done in good faith. The Fund. Bank accounts. Annual report, accounts and audit. Investments. Consultants, advisors, etc. Executive authorities to assist the Council. Power to make rules. Regulations. Page 3 of 19 Removal of difficulties. Overriding effect. Page 4 of 19 THE ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS COUNCIL ACT, 2022 ACT NO. IX OF 2022 [28th February, 2022] An Act to make the provisions for the establishment of the Allied Health Professionals Council WHEREAS it is expedient to establish an Allied Health Professionals Council in Pakistan for the purposes of making a uniform standard of basic and higher qualification in various Allied Health disciplines and to consolidate the law relating to the registration of all professionals in various disciplines of Allied Health Professionals; WHEREAS, it is necessary to regulate education, training, practice, functions and registration of Allied Health Professionals in the Pakistan for public health It is hereby enacted as follows:— Short title, extent commencement.— (1) This Act shall be called the Allied Health Professionals Council Act, 2022. (2) It shall extend to the whole of Pakistan. (3) It shall come into force at once. Definitions.— (1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the context or subject,— (a) “Allied Health Professionals” or “AHP” means Person who provides diagnostic, therapeutic, Preventive, curative or rehabilitative services in health care, in a prescribed Manner and has undergone a prescribed course of training in a recognized institution and is registered as an Allied Health Professional by the body formed for the purpose, as per Sehedule-I; (b) “bachelor degree” means any degree, duly recognized by the council, of at least four years duration after higher secondary school granted by a university or an institution; (c) “basic qualification” means certificate or diploma course for Allied Health Professionals recognized by the council; (d) “certificate” means any recognized qualification pursuant to at least a one year training duration granted by an institution recognized by the Council; (e) Council means the Allied Health Professionals Council established under section 3; (f) “continuous professional development” means skill enhancement and improvement of personal and professional competency which shall— (i) Comprise of lectures, seminars, courses, individual study or other activities undertaken by a Registered AHP; and Page 5 of 19 (ii) reasonably be expected to advance a Registered AHP’s development in his or her related profession. (g) “continuous professional development opportunity provider” means an institution or organization providing continuous professional development opportunities recognized by the council; (h) “diploma” means any recognized qualification of at least two years or greater duration granted by an institution recognized by the Council to grant such qualification under this act; (i) “doctorate degree” means any degree higher than an M. Phil or masters degree, recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and which is recognized by the council as applicable towards qualifications of an AHP; (j) “eligible” means any person eligible for registration of recognized qualification under this act; (k) “Ex-officio member” means members of the Council nominated under clauses (a) and (b) of sub-section 3 of section 3 of this Act and who shall not have the right to vote or hold any elected position in the Council; (l) “healthcare establishment” means any premises used or intended to be used for the provision of health care services, including but not limited to a hospital, teaching hospital, rural health center, basic health units, surgical centers, blood banks, maternity homes, nursing homes, clinics, clinical laboratories, dispensaries, dental clinics, x-ray laboratories, diagnostic center, centers for nuclear medicine or radiation therapy, ambulatories, psychiatric hospitals, burn units, psychiatric nursing homes, community mental health center, hemodialysis center, dialysis center, rehabilitation center or clinic or centers and such other health care or premises as may be declared from time to time by the Federal or Provincial Government or byelaw; (m) “Higher qualification” means a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification as recognized by the Council for AHP; (n) “institution” means an institute, college or university which is recognized under this act to grant or train basic or higher qualification for AHP; (o) “masters degree” means any post graduate degree granted by a university or an institution recognized by the Council; (p) “Member” means a member of the Allied Health Professionals Council; (q) “M. Phil” means any post-master degree granted by a university or an institution recognized by the Council; (r) “National Medical Authority” means