The Allied Health Professions Bill

The Parliament Office has been advertising the Allied Health Professions Bill 2009, which was committed to a Special Select Committee of the National Assembly. Written submissions have been invited from members of the public, professionals and organizations.

This bill seeks to provide for the registration of members of allied health professions supplementary to the medical profession; the regulation of practice of allied health professions and allied health services; the maintenance of professional standards for allied health professions and health services; and to make provisions for training of members of those professions and services and for related purposes.

The Explanatory Memorandum in the bill does not give the reasons for the bill, but simply lists clauses 1-37.

In clause 3 (1) The Minister may, by Order, establish a Council to be known as the Allied Health Professions Council for the purpose of this Act.
(2) The council shall be a body corporate.

4 (1) The council shall consist of the following eleven members namely-

(a) The Chief Medical Officer who shall be an ex officio member of the council.

(b) Two allied health professionals from among the allied health professions listed in the First Schedule appointed by the Minister:

(c) Six members, being allied health professionals appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of organizations representing allied health professions listed in the First Schedule:

(d) Two persons from among Consumer organizations who are not allied health professionals appointed by the Minister.

(2) Where a sufficient number of persons representing organizations referred to in subsection (1) (c) are not available for appointment, the Minister shall appoint any Health Professional instead.

The health professionals include those involved in acupuncture therapy, audiology and speech, language pathology, chiropody and podiatry, andthose such as X-Ray technicians and 16 others. A copy of the bill can be obtained from the Parliament Office Public Building, Brickdam, or on the website.
The Procedure of the Council is as follows:-

(1) The Council shall elect from among the members, a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson for a term of two years and each person shall be eligible for re-election.

(2)The Deputy Chairperson, in the absence of the Chairperson, shall preside over a meeting of the Council.

(3) In the absence of the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson, the Council shall elect any other member present to preside over a meeting of the Council.

(4) A member of the Council shall not attend a meeting of the Council or take pan in any deliberation in respect of any matter in which he has direct or indirect pecuniary or other interest.

The Council shall take a decision on the basis of a majority and the Quorum of a meeting shall be five members.

The Council shall regulate its own procedure.

The Chairman and other members of the Council shall be entitled to such fees or allowances as may be determined by the Council with the approval of the Minister.
Functions of Council
(1) The Council shall (a) Prescribe the qualifications that are necessary for persons to be registered as allied health professionals, (b) Maintain a list of registered allied health professionals.

(d) Promote continuing health related education and training so as to enhance the skills and proficiencies of allied health professionals.

(e) Advise the Minister, where necessary, on any matter relating or incidental to – (i) the performance of the specified allied health services in Guyana and

(ii)The maintenance of high standards of those services, and (f) Undertake such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Minister from time to time.

The Council shall have the power among other things, to:

Issue a certificate of registration to a person who holds the necessary qualifications to be a registered allied health professional:
Record the names and details of persons who hold the necessary Qualifications as registered allied health professionals in the Register:

Manage the processing of annual licensing of health professionals who are eligible to practice upon any terms as may be prescribed:

Maintain a Register to licenced Practitioners:

Suspend or revoke the registration, refuse to grant suspend or revoke the annual licence and remove the names and details of persons who have become disqualified to be registered or to practise in an allied health profession or allied health service.
Nothing in this Act shall prevent the performance of any allied health service in any allied health profession registered by a person in training if those services are performed under the direct supervision and control of(a) An allied health professional registered in the relevant allied health profession and allied health service.

(b) A medical practitioner under the Medical Practitioners Act’ (c) A dental practitioner under the Dental Registration Act.