Medical Education Special ALLIED COURSES
by Prabha Dhavala
D
own with a disease? A doctor immediately comes
to mind. However, it’s allied medical professionals,
paramedics, pharmacists, nurses and the like who
complete the picture. Who exactly are these allied medical
professionals?
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) defines
them as ‘individuals involved with the delivery of health or
healthcare related services, with qualification and compe-
tence in therapeutic, diagnostic, curative, preventive and/or
rehabilitative interventions’.
You may be wondering how and where to gain qualifications to make
a career for yourself in allied medical fields. Here’s a snapshot of
courses to help you take the final call.25 POPULAR ALLIED
MEDICAL COURSES
They work in multidisciplinary health teams in tandem
with doctors, nurses and public health officials in vari-
ous multidisciplinary settings to promote, protect, treat an
individual’s well-being (physical, mental, social, emotional,
environmental health).
Allied health professionals are diagnostic medical sonogra-
phers, medical technologists, occupational therapists, physi-
cal therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, speech
language pathologists, optometrists, physiotherapists, to
name a few.- Bachelor of Science in Respiratory
Therapy (BSc RT)
A
respiratory therapist specializes in the evaluation, treat-
ment, education and rehabilitation of patients with res-
piratory diseases. They provide respiratory care under the
supervision of a physician. They are involved in clinical
work in the outpatient area, the pulmonary medicine wards,
labs. They help in the management of chronic diseases such
as COPD, Bronchiectasis, Interstitial Lung Disease, Sleep
Apnoea, Asthma and allergies. Respiratory therapists mainly
work in labs and ICUs.
- BSc Cardiac Perfusion Technology
(BSc-CPT)
C
linical Perfusionists are members of the cardiac surgical
team who provide lifesaving support to patients requir-
ing extra corporeal circulation, including major surgeries as
well as support of the critically-ill patient. Perfusionists are
experts on operating life support equipment like ventricular
assist devices and intra-aortic balloon pumps. The cur-
riculum includes cardiothoracic anatomy, physiology and
pathophysiology, as well as pharmacology, fetal and neonatal
cardiac development and perfusion science.Course Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSc RT)
Eligibility 10+2 PCB Duration 4 years Fee Range Rs. 2 to 5 lakhs
Application window March-May Selection process Institute-
speciƼc entrance exammerit Popular institutes Amrita Center for
Allied Health Sciences, Kochi JSS Academy of Higher Education
& Research, Mysore Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be
University), Mullana; Manipal School of Allied Health Sciences,
Manipal; NITTE University, Mangalore
FAST FA C T S
Course BSc Cardiac Perfusion Technology (CPT) Eligibility 10+2
PCB Duration 4 years Fee Range Rs. 18,000 to 6 lakhs Application
window March-July Selection process Institute-speciƼc entrance
exammerit Popular institutes Amrita Center for Allied Health
Sciences, Kochi; DY Patil University (Deemed to be University), Navi
Mumbai; Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and
Research, Puducherry; JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research,
Mysore; Manipal School of Allied Health Sciences, ManipalFA S T FA C T S