Public Health Foundation of India
Encyclopedia
The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), is an autonomous foundation located in New Delhi
, India
. The foundation was created as a public-private initiative and launched by the Prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh
in 2006 with the aim of enhancing the capacity of public health
professionals in the country over five to seven years. The PHFI initiative was collaboratively developed over two years under the leadership of Rajat Gupta
(Former Sr. Partner Worldwide, McKinsey & Company
), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Prof. K. Srinath Reddy
(President, PHFI and former Head of the Department of Cardiology, AIIMS).
Public health has evolved as a multi-disciplinary science which deals with the determinants and defence of health at the population level so as to impact upon and improve the health of individuals in that population. It aims to focus on and influence the multiple determinants of health (economic, social, behavioural and biological) and to undertake and evaluate multi-sectoral interventions to positively influence those determinants. It also involves the study of health system
s, their structure and management practices as channels for delivery of health services for all sections of the population.
As India experiences a rapid health transition, it is confronted both by an unfinished agenda of eliminating infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies, unsafe pregnancies and the challenge of escalating epidemics of non-communicable diseases. This composite threat to the nation’s health and development needs a concerted public health response that can ensure delivery of cost-effective interventions for health promotion, disease prevention and affordable diagnostic and the therapeutic health care.
This broad ambit makes it essential that education and training in public health is multi-disciplinary in content and that the pathways of public health action are multi-sectoral. Public health education must include subject areas like epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioural sciences, health economics, health services management, environmental health, health inequities and human rights, gender and health, health promotion and communication, ethics of health care and research. These diverse disciplines need to establish synergistic links in designing and delivering health care
in prioritized sectors. It is also essential to advance a trans-disciplinary research agenda which informs policy and empowers programs. There is a constant need for surveillance, monitoring and evaluation. The interventions proposed need to be evidence based, context specific and resource sensitive. Thus public health should emphasize health promotion, disease prevention and cost effective as well as equitable health care through collective actions at various levels (viz. macro, public and private) to address the underlying causes of diseases, and foster conditions in which communities or population groups may lead healthy lives.
is imperative for a sustained and holistic response to the public health concerns in the country, which in turn requires health care to be addressed not only from the scientific perspective of what works, but also from the social perspective of who needs it the most.
The PHFI concept was developed over two years under the leadership of Mr. Rajat Gupta
(Former Managing Director of McKinsey & Company
), the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, Former Head of Department Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
. The concept was collaboratively evolved through consultation with multiple constituencies including Indian and international academia, State and Central Governments in India, multi & bi-lateral agencies, civil society groups in India.
. The Foundation is managed by a fully empowered, independent, governing board that is represented by multiple constituencies.
The Board includes senior government officials, eminent Indian and International academic and scientific leaders, civil society representatives and industry leaders. The chairman of the board is N.R. Narayana Murthy. Board members include: Montek Singh Ahluwalia
(Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India), Amartya Sen
(Nobel Laureate)and others. The President of the Foundation is Prof. K. Srinath Reddy
, a cardiologist and epidemiologist who brings in a broad range of public health experience at national and global levels.
The concept enjoys wide support nationally and internationally. PHFI is supported by the World Bank
, World Health Organization
, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust
and has acacemic linkages 30 international schools of Public Health from around the world.
Four IIPHs are currently running in Bhubaneswar
, Delhi
, Gandhinagar (temporarily located in Ahmedabad
) and Hyderabad. There are many more proposed to be set up in the entire country.
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The foundation was created as a public-private initiative and launched by the Prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
in 2006 with the aim of enhancing the capacity of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
professionals in the country over five to seven years. The PHFI initiative was collaboratively developed over two years under the leadership of Rajat Gupta
Rajat Gupta
Rajat Kumar Gupta was the managing director of management consultancy McKinsey & Company from 1994 to 2003 and a business leader in India and the United States...
(Former Sr. Partner Worldwide, McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company, Inc. is a global management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management. McKinsey serves as an adviser to many businesses, governments, and institutions...
), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Prof. K. Srinath Reddy
K. Srinath Reddy
Kolli Srinath Reddy, who goes by K. Srinath Reddy, is the president of the Public Health Foundation of India.-Career:Reddy is the former head of the cardiology department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.-External links:...
(President, PHFI and former Head of the Department of Cardiology, AIIMS).
The need for public health in India
India faces a severe shortfall of public health professionals, and capacity building efforts are urgently required to address its emerging public health challenges.Public health has evolved as a multi-disciplinary science which deals with the determinants and defence of health at the population level so as to impact upon and improve the health of individuals in that population. It aims to focus on and influence the multiple determinants of health (economic, social, behavioural and biological) and to undertake and evaluate multi-sectoral interventions to positively influence those determinants. It also involves the study of health system
Health system
A health system can be defined as the structured and interrelated set of all actors and institutions contributing to health improvement. The health system boundaries could then be referred to the concept of health action, which is "any set of activities whose primary intent is to improve or...
s, their structure and management practices as channels for delivery of health services for all sections of the population.
As India experiences a rapid health transition, it is confronted both by an unfinished agenda of eliminating infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies, unsafe pregnancies and the challenge of escalating epidemics of non-communicable diseases. This composite threat to the nation’s health and development needs a concerted public health response that can ensure delivery of cost-effective interventions for health promotion, disease prevention and affordable diagnostic and the therapeutic health care.
This broad ambit makes it essential that education and training in public health is multi-disciplinary in content and that the pathways of public health action are multi-sectoral. Public health education must include subject areas like epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioural sciences, health economics, health services management, environmental health, health inequities and human rights, gender and health, health promotion and communication, ethics of health care and research. These diverse disciplines need to establish synergistic links in designing and delivering health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
in prioritized sectors. It is also essential to advance a trans-disciplinary research agenda which informs policy and empowers programs. There is a constant need for surveillance, monitoring and evaluation. The interventions proposed need to be evidence based, context specific and resource sensitive. Thus public health should emphasize health promotion, disease prevention and cost effective as well as equitable health care through collective actions at various levels (viz. macro, public and private) to address the underlying causes of diseases, and foster conditions in which communities or population groups may lead healthy lives.
The Genesis of PHFI
The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) was conceptualised as a response to growing concern over the emerging public health challenges in India. It recognizes the fact that meeting the shortfall of health professionalsHealth Human Resources
Health human resources — also known as “human resources for health” or “health workforce” — is defined as “all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health”, according to the World Health Organization's World Health Report 2006. Human resources for health are identified as...
is imperative for a sustained and holistic response to the public health concerns in the country, which in turn requires health care to be addressed not only from the scientific perspective of what works, but also from the social perspective of who needs it the most.
The PHFI concept was developed over two years under the leadership of Mr. Rajat Gupta
Rajat Gupta
Rajat Kumar Gupta was the managing director of management consultancy McKinsey & Company from 1994 to 2003 and a business leader in India and the United States...
(Former Managing Director of McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company, Inc. is a global management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management. McKinsey serves as an adviser to many businesses, governments, and institutions...
), the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, Former Head of Department Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a premier medical college and teaching hospital based in New Delhi, India. The Institute operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ....
. The concept was collaboratively evolved through consultation with multiple constituencies including Indian and international academia, State and Central Governments in India, multi & bi-lateral agencies, civil society groups in India.
The Foundation
The Public Health Foundation of India is an autonomously governed public private partnership launched by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on March 28, 2006 at New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. The Foundation is managed by a fully empowered, independent, governing board that is represented by multiple constituencies.
The Board includes senior government officials, eminent Indian and International academic and scientific leaders, civil society representatives and industry leaders. The chairman of the board is N.R. Narayana Murthy. Board members include: Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Montek Singh Ahluwalia is an Indian economist and civil servant. He is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of the Republic of India. He was previously the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund.-Early life and education:Montek...
(Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India), Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen, CH is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members...
(Nobel Laureate)and others. The President of the Foundation is Prof. K. Srinath Reddy
K. Srinath Reddy
Kolli Srinath Reddy, who goes by K. Srinath Reddy, is the president of the Public Health Foundation of India.-Career:Reddy is the former head of the cardiology department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.-External links:...
, a cardiologist and epidemiologist who brings in a broad range of public health experience at national and global levels.
The concept enjoys wide support nationally and internationally. PHFI is supported by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
and has acacemic linkages 30 international schools of Public Health from around the world.
Mandate
The PHFI is working towards building public health capacity by:- Establishing a network of new institutes of public health in India
- Establishing strong national networks and international partnerships for research
- Generating policy recommendations and developing vigorous advocacy platform
- Facilitating the establishment of an independent accreditation body for degrees in public health which are awarded by training institutions across India
- Assisting the growth of existing public health training institutions
The Indian Institutes of Public Health
The Indian Institutes of Public Health (IIPH) established by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) would aim to make their education and research activities relevant to India in content and context, while attaining standards which are qualitatively comparable with the best in the world. Each IIPH would provide multidisciplinary education focused on the multiple determinants of health and the skill sets needed for designing and implementing a broad range of multi-sectoral actions required to advance public health.Four IIPHs are currently running in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Gandhinagar (temporarily located in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
) and Hyderabad. There are many more proposed to be set up in the entire country.