RIPS

Centre approves RIPS for GMCH Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 24 Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved to establish the Regional Institute of Paramedical Sciences (RIPS) on the premises of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32. The institute will cater to Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. This was revealed at a meeting conducted by the ministry at New Delhi today. Professor Raj Bahadur, Director-Principal, GMCH, was representing the Chandigarh administration. The ministry has also proposed to have a matching number of paramedics as desired in reference to the population in these states. The Centre will bear 85 per cent of the cost (Rs 80 crore) for the institute. Earlier, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had proposed to establish the National Institute of Paramedical Sciences (NIPS) and Regional Institute of Paramedical Sciences (RIPS) and supporting state medical colleges for conducting paramedical courses. While NIPS is being set up at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, RIPS has also bagged by the medical institute of city beautiful. The fast pace of development of medical sciences is throwing up newer technology in the field of diagnosis and treatment, increasing dependence on technology and raising over all demand of well qualified and trained professionals, said Dr Raj Bahadur. Paramedic is a person who is trained to give medical emergency treatment or to assist the physician in providing medical care. Paramedical education and training has not kept pace with the specialisation and super-specialisation in medical sciences under different schemes. Some prominent paramedical streams include medical laboratory technology, blood bank technology, radiography technology, radiotherapy technology, fusion technology, EEG, EMG, ECG technology, cardiac care technology, physio occupational therapy, audio speech therapy, prosthesistry, ear moulder, rehabilitation therapy, optometry, clinical psychology, pre-hospital trauma, dialysis technology, dental hygiene, dental mechanic, medical records, and operation theatre. Paramedical education system in the country is neither organised nor standardised. There is no standard criterion or uniformity in the admission, curriculum, duration of course and qualification granted and accreditation. Most of the paramedics’ courses are recognised by respective professional associations and not by any council or regulatory authority, said Dr Raj Bahadur.