There is an increasing realisation on the importance of paramedical personnel in the health sector, especially in accident and trauma care. Paramedics are a boon to nursing homes and a dream for students, who have not been able to become full-fledged medical professionals. Health care delivery systems are undergoing rapid changes and the demand for skilled paramedical personnel is on the rise.

Almost all the diagnostic procedures are carried out by the paramedical staff and they have emerged a vital cog in the wheel of the health care delivery system. The population explosion coupled with the mushrooming of private and corporate hospitals has provided numerous opportunities for skilled paramedics.

Now, what’s important is to know more about such ‘Professionals’ who do a Blood Test or a massage or a therapy and aid the doctor for better treatment of the patient & hence make health care easy and effective. These Professionals are called as “Paramedics.”

Paramedics are the key players in the Health & Medical Sector. Without paramedics, the entire Health Industry is out of gear and is almost non-functionary. If there are no Paramedics, there is neither money nor any profit for doctors, hospitals, private clinics, etc…

So, be a Paramedic and discover the great realms of ‘Human health’ & earn huge money. It’s a hidden treasure which’s not known to many. A few who found the hidden treasure are now the masters in the field of Health Care & Medical Sciences. Currently, they have better opportunities & bright prospects than a MBBS / BDS graduate.

Apart from the private medical colleges, the Andhra Pradesh Para-Medical Board offers various diplomas and certificate courses in its affiliated institutions at various parts in the state.

Admission into Para-Medical courses is open to candidates, who have passed 10th or any equivalent examination. Candidates who have passed 10th class but failed in intermediate or degree are also eligible to apply for these courses. Candidates should be within the age group of 15-35, with a three-year relaxation for those from SC and ST communities. Among the most popular diploma courses of two-year duration are Medical Laboratory Technician (DMLT), Radio Therapy technician and Medical Imaging technician.

The other diploma courses are Ophthalmic Assistant, Optometry Technician, and Audiometric technician. Emerging fields like, Hospital Food Service Management Technician and Medical sterilization Technician are also in great demand.

The certificate courses are Cardiology technician, Cathlab Technician, ECG Technician, Blood Bank Technician, Radiographic Assistant and Anesthesia Technician. The qualification required for most of these courses is a pass in Intermediate with Science subjects.

The Andhra Pradesh Para Medical Board looks after all the aspects of the paramedical courses and conducts counseling. The Board is planning to create awareness among the rural area students to opt for Para-medical courses and provide job opportunities as well.

When The Career Guide met Mr. B N S Kumar, Secretary, the Andhra Pradesh Para-Medical Board, he described about the Para-Medical courses and their importance and job opportunities. Mr. Kumar said that the Board is planning to strengthen the services towards rural areas to create awareness among the students.

The Para-Medical staff plays vital role in any hospital other than doctors. Any doctor before he starts treatment to the patient, he has to take the guidance and reports of various tests conducted on patients to know about his/her condition. These tests are carried out by the experienced para medical staff. The continuous expansion of the health care industry brings a more demand for trained Paramedical Professionals.

The Andhra Pradesh Para-Medical Board is the main authority to sanction the new institutions, and verify the institutions activities like what they offer, like courses, maintenance of institutions. Besides, the Board would look into the issuing of certificates to the students by the institutions and every Para-medical students should register his or her names with the Board after completing their course.

TCG: Can you provide the details of various Para-Medical courses that are being offered by the Board?

Kumar: As many as 10 different diploma courses are being offered now.   The duration of course is two years while 7 courses are offered as a certificate course for which the duration is one year. SSC and Intermediate passed students are eligible to get admission into these courses.

TCG: Can you give a few details of available seats on those courses?

Kumar: In Diploma courses, as many as 3,987 seats are available. 354 seats are available in Government institutions while 3,642 seats are being offered by private institutions. In Certificate courses,  total of 5733 seats are available now. At least 593 seats are available under Government institutions while 5140 seats are being offered by private institutions in the State.

TCG: When will the Board release notification of these courses?

Kumar: The Andhra Pradesh Para-Medical Board started its operations since last year and the Board is planning to streamline all the institutions under it. We are planning to release notification for admission into all those courses soon after the SSC and Intermediate exams get over in the State; tentatively the Board will release notification every year in the month of April from next academic year.

TCG: Do you have any plans to introduce new courses?

Also well, the Board is planning to introduce a new course in the Para-Medical. Besides, the State Government is thinking of providing legal permission to the RMP doctor’s services in rural areas. As many as 1.50 lakh RMPs are working in many villages in the State. In near future, the Board is planning to utilize their service, it is said.

A few Para-medical courses and the details are follows

Dental Hygiene & Dental Mechanic:

Being a dental hygienist / dental mechanic involves the great & creative responsibility to design the dental structures, make patients know more about their dental health. In general, these professionals work behind the scenes along with the Dentist to give the patients an extra Colgate smile.

A dental hygienist / dental mechanic works mainly towards diagnosing the dental problems of a patient. The basic job revolves around assisting a Dentist in making dental ceramics & also be responsible for establishment of better dental care facilities in a clinic. A dental mechanic recommends & designs the dental structures for a patient and is the designer of dental accessories. They also work as assistants to dental surgeons in dental surgeries.

Being a dental mechanic one can work with flexible timings. Working with a doctor, designing the dental structures, being a consultant & ultimately having one’s own industry of dental ceramics. There is no nine-to-five routine. One can work at their convenience.

The Key Skills required for a dental mechanical are (a) Good interpersonal skills (b) Ability to make patients feel that the mechanic competent. (c) Good creative analysis.

The following are the job prospects:

(a) Work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics & also private dental ceramic agencies. 

(b) Full time or part time jobs with various hospitals assisting the dental surgeons in surgeries. 

(c) Private practice, performing dental tests & design of dental structure on recommendation of a Dentist.  

(d) Opportunities also exist in the armed forces, industry and public health sectors. 

(e) If one has strong economic background & can handle a company then, setting up an industry to manufacture dental ceramics/ structures is a great investment with high returns.  

(f) A dental mechanic with ( 2-3 years ) of experience can look out for a great job in Western countries.

Dental Mechanics / Hygienists have enough opportunities to study specialization courses offered as PG courses / PGD courses in premier Institutes of India / Abroad.

Health inspector / sanitary inspector:

This profession till date remains one of the most sought by people who wish to make great money & have power in their hands. Though the qualification is not comparable with other high profile courses it gives enough scope to climb the ladder of success in short time.

A health / sanitary inspector will be more into conducting surveys, writing reports, doing field work & research on various aspects of health environment, conditions & the norms to be followed. The core job remains to be professional’s who shall supervise an assignment, conduct analysis when the need arises and make the people / company abide by the health standards. Great opportunities exist in Govt. sector.

The Key skills required for health / sanitary inspector are (a) Ability to work in a team & take bold decisions against all odds. (b) Good communication skills. (c) Good physical fitness & stamina to over work for long hours.

With regards to job prospects

(a) Many vacancies exist in central & state government Health departments. 

(b) Can work as consultant/supervisor/chief manager in private hospitals, MNC’s & other health related departments. 

(c) Opportunities to work abroad are aplenty. You could get supervisor , managerial level jobs offer high pays.

Operation theater & dialysis technology

The operation theater technicians / dialysis technicians are professionals who are ever required to have an operation done or perform a dialysis test on a patient. The job mainly involves well trained and qualified professionals who will work under immense pressure with the doctors in extreme conditions or in emergencies.

A well qualified & competent O.T. technician / Dialysis technician, you will be involved in maintaining the OPERATION THEATER. When an operation needs to be performed, the O.T. technicians shall work towards setting up the O.T. for the operations. The O.T. technicians need to be highly accurate & make perfect setups for the operation. As Dialysis technicians, they are person who perform a DIALYSIS test on a patient after it’s recommended by the doctor. Becomes a specialist after completing enough number of dialysis tests. The job carries with it, lots of personal satisfaction (not to forget the monetary gain!!). The most challenging paramedical job.

The Key skills required are

(a) one should possess a scientific bent of mind. (b) Ability to work under pressure and take bold decisions. (c) Accuracy, meticulousness & good decision making skills are required. (d) For more success in this field, ability to work with a mission can give rich dividends and make ones job more satisfying both monetarily & socially.

With regards to Job prospects this profession is one of the most UNKNOWN one in India. The number of people possessing this knowledge are also very few & they remain individuals most sought after.

(a) They can work in private & government hospitals, clinics & nursing homes.

(b) When one gains enough experience (5 - 6 years) and has mastered the profession, he / she need no longer search for work, Insha Allah such persons will be searched by hospitals / nursing homes to get you consultant.

(c) After gaining 1-2 years of experience in India, one can try for a lucrative job abroad (all over the world) and the salary ranges between Rs.50, 000 - 60,000.

Medical records technology

This is one of the latest and currently the most sought paramedical career because of advancement in IT field which has led to the computerization of the health sector. Today no longer the medical records are maintained in books/registers/records. Every record, entry & details of patient’s disease, diagnosis & the treatment are computerized. This career is now being adopted by people who like working on computers and also have keen interest in the medical field.

As a medical records technician, one will maintains a database of patients, health reports, treatment details, the hospital records and ultimately the entire backup of the patient’s case history. The work involves being glued to the computer and work online (sometimes) and be responsible for all the records.

The key skills required for this kind of job are (a) Ability to work long hours on computers. (b) Good stamina, patience & ability to understand medical terms. (c) Qualities of being good with people & working in a team are essential.

Being one of the upcoming careers with the computerization of health sector and very less number of trained people who can work on computers to maintain records, it has given rise to a number of vacancies in all hospitals / health sectors in India & Abroad. So there is always a job that’s waiting for you.