Strengthening India’s Public Health Education and Workforce

Context

Recently, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO). This move from the U.S. has disrupted health services in several developing nations.

However, India has remained relatively unaffected since international aid forms only about 1% of its health expenditure.
Despite this, the shrinking of global aid could impact India’s public health sector by reducing funding and job opportunities for public health graduates.

Relevance:
GS-02 (International relations)

Dimensions of the Article:

Historical Background
Expansion of Public Health Education
Challenges in Public Health Education and Jobs
Structural Issues in Regulation

Historical Background

Public health education in India dates back to the colonial era, with the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (Kolkata) established in 1932.
Community medicine became part of medical education, but the supply of trained professionals remained limited.
Many students pursued Master of Public Health (MPH) abroad due to limited domestic opportunities.

Expansion of Public Health Education

Over 100 institutions now offer MPH courses, up from just one in 2000.
The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005 increased the demand for non-medical public health specialists.
Despite increased supply, the demand for public health professionals remains stagnant, creating a mismatch.

Challenges in Public Health Education and Jobs

Low Investment: India’s public health funding is inadequate compared to developed nations.
Mismatch Between Supply and Demand: High competition for limited entry-level positions in public health.
Poor Quality of Education: Lack of standardised curriculum and training standards reduces the quality of graduates.
Limited Private Sector Involvement: The private sector prioritises hospital management over public health roles.
Dependence on Foreign Grants: Research and development funding is largely dependent on foreign aid, which is shrinking.

Structural Issues in Regulation

MPH courses are not regulated by the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Absence of central oversight leads to inconsistent training quality across institutions.

Way Forward

Establish a Public Health Cadre
- Creating a dedicated public health workforce within State and national health systems will improve employment and strengthen healthcare delivery.
- Governments should become the largest employer of public health professionals, similar to developed countries.
Introduce Regulatory Oversight
- A dedicated regulatory body under the NMC or UGC should be established to standardise training, curriculum, and learning outcomes.
- Public health experts should lead this department to ensure professional standards and alignment with industry needs.
Improve Practical Training
- Public health training should include structured internships and field experience within health systems.
- Universities should partner with government health departments to create real-world learning opportunities.
Regional Equity and Access
- Expand public health education infrastructure to underserved regions, especially in states like Assam, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
- Financial support and incentives should be provided to increase participation in public health education.
Strengthen Domestic R&D Funding
- Increase domestic funding for public health research to reduce reliance on foreign grants.
- Promote public-private partnerships to foster innovation and technological development in healthcare.

Conclusion

India’s growing public health education system must align with the country’s healthcare needs. Strengthening public health infrastructure, creating employment opportunities, and introducing regulatory oversight will improve the quality and effectiveness of India’s public health workforce. Investing in this sector is essential for sustainable development and global competitiveness.

Mains Question

Discuss the challenges faced by India’s public health education system and suggest measures to strengthen the public health workforce and improve healthcare delivery. (250 words)