Experts call for revamp of public health infrastructure
The Hindu
Concept note shared with State govt. for consideration
With the COVID caseload low, public health experts are urging the government to seriously consider strengthening preventive healthcare with surveillance systems in place before the next ‘wave’ or pandemic hits us. Certain short-term measures can be immediately initiated while other long term steps can be discussed and planned for implementation in phases for improving public health care, say experts at the Indian Institute of Public Health-Hyderabad (IIPH).
Institute director G.V.S. Murthy, on Sunday, informed that initially, the serving personnel at different levels of the district, regional and State can be skilled through short duration programmes if they show willingness to join the public health cadre solely and not undertake clinical duties. Such personnel will need to have at least 10 years of experience at the sub-district level for district-level positions and at least 15 years of experience for State-level positions, covering primary to tertiary healthcare.
Those with a post graduation in community medicine or public health (MD, DPH, MPH) will only need to attend a short reorientation course while all others will need a certified public health programme, he explained. Long-term measures include recruitment to a dedicated public health cadre from the block level onwards, of personnel with specific mandated public health qualifications with promotion based on seniority and qualification register. Those from clinical services cadre can be considered following a mandated public health course.