UGC bans online courses for allied health professionals amid quality concerns

UGC’s Distance Education Bureau has canceled approval for online healthcare and allied courses, including Psychology, Microbiology, and Nutrition, citing the need for hands-on training. Experts say practical skills are essential for patient safety and cannot be replicated through online learning.

Hyderabad: In a move aimed at maintaining quality standards and patient safety, the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) has withdrawn permission from educational institutions to conduct online courses related to healthcare and allied disciplines.

The healthcare and allied courses, which previously were offered online by a variety of educational institutions, and now have been canceled, include Psychology, Microbiology, Food and Nutrition Science, Biotechnology, and Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics.

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“No HEI (Higher Educational Institutions) shall be permitted to offer any allied and healthcare programs covered in the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021, including Psychology as specialization under ODL/Online mode, from the academic session July-August, 2025 and onwards,” the DEB of UGC said in a recent circular.

Maintaining that such a decision is apt, senior health faculty in teaching hospitals in Hyderabad said that offering healthcare courses through online mode is impractical.

“Professional healthcare and allied health courses like nursing, physiotherapy, even psychology and nutrition are highly practical and hands-on. They require direct interaction with patients and clients. Even laboratory work requires technical skills that have to be taught by a teacher physically,” senior doctors said.

According to UGC, the “critical hands-on component cannot be effectively replicated through online or distance learning platforms. A graduate with a purely online degree might lack the practical skills and judgment necessary for real-world scenarios, which could compromise patient safety.”

Some of the other challenges in offering such courses online include maintaining academic standards, quality of faculty, and quality of examinations.

In its circular, the UGC said, “For HEIs already granted recognition to offer such programs for the upcoming academic session July-August 2025 and onwards, any recognition already granted to HEIs for offering such programs for the academic session July-August 2025 and onwards shall be withdrawn by the UGC.”