Allied health professions are health care professions distinct from dentistry, nursing, medicine, podiatry and pharmacy. One estimate reported allied health professionals make up 60 percent of the total health workforce. They work in health care teams to make the health care system function by providing a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and direct patient care and support services that are critical to the other health professionals they work with and the patients they serve.
Definitions of allied health professions vary across countries and contexts, but generally indicate that they are health professions distinct from medicine, dentistry,Optometry and nursing. Some definitions only include health care providers that require registration by law to practice, but usually all allied health professions that require a post-secondary degree or higher qualification are included.
Depending on the country and local health care system, a limited subset of the following professions (professional areas) may be represented, and may be regulated: