A Decade Without Audiologists: Persistent Non-Recruitment in Indian Public Health Non-Recruitment of Audiologists in India
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Audiologist recruitment, NPPCD, Rehabilitation Council of India, Public health policy India, Disability rights, RCI Act 1992, Healthcare human resources, Misuse of professional titles
Abstract
The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD) was introduced in India to provide early hearing detection and intervention services at district and tertiary healthcare levels. While the programme outlines the post of a qualified Audiologist at each district facility, our research — based on Right to Information (RTI) queries and policy records from 2014–2024 — finds that most public hospitals across India have failed to appoint Audiologists. Instead, Audiometric Assistants and Technicians are routinely substituted, despite lacking statutory recognition or registration.
Under the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) Act, 1992, only RCI-registered professionals may practice as Audiologists. In 2021, RCI issued Model Recruitment Rules (MRRs) to standardize qualifications, pay scales, and designation. Yet, no central or state institution has adopted them to date.
This paper analyzes a decade of non-compliance and institutional neglect using legal provisions, budget allocations, and government admissions obtained through RTIs. It concludes that continued misclassification of roles and the failure to recruit qualified Audiologists represent violations of statutory, ethical, and programmatic obligations, undermining the rights of persons with hearing disabilities and misusing public funds.
We call for mandatory implementation of RCI’s MRRs, audit of NPPCD-compliant staffing, and legal accountability for healthcare providers violating rehabilitation laws. The findings have implications for inclusive health policy and disability justice in India
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