ISHA'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO
CAPACITY BUILDING FOR EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE

In the last 26 years of its existence, ISHA's major contribution has been in capacity building for administrators, professionals, managerial personnel, and development of systems, for efficiency and effectiveness. For capacity building and strengthening the systems, ISHA has trained over 200,000 professionals and administrators. Some of the strategies used are:

A. Leadership Development in the Health and Family Welfare Field

Keeping in view the need for development of perceptual and conceptual abilities for policy formulation, programme implementation, and mobilization of resources towards primary health care, ISHA has organized so far 24 national Conferences and Meetings on critical subjects of national importance in which over 5000 political leaders, professionals, researchers, clinicians and administrators have participated. Also, series of programmes at national and state level have been conducted on Leadership Development for primary, secondary, and tertiary health care, as well as implementation of national health programmes and develop action plans to achieve those goals.

B. Clinical Updates for Health Professionals

In view of the latest developments in technology, changing health scenario from communicable to non-communicable diseases, emerging morbidity and mortality patterns, nearly 200 programmes have been conducted for medical professionals, nursing professionals, and para-medical group in clinical updates in the field of cardiology, neurology, mental health, paediatrics, gynecology, oncology, critical care management, HIV-AIDS, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, stress and health management, and patient satisfaction patterns.

C. Hospitals and Health Programmes Management

Towards effective management of the health institutions and programmes, nearly 100 programmes have been conducted at national, state and institutional levels in planning of hospitals, project management, human resources development, computer applications, information systems management, patient satisfaction, quality assurance, materials management, inpatient and outpatient management, cost reduction, and evaluation of the programmes.

D. Public Sector Industries Management

Keeping in view the socialistic pattern of society and need for balanced integrated regional development, huge investments have been made in Central and State Public Sector Enterprises. In collaboration with the Department of Public Sector Enterprises, ISHA has conducted about 50 programmes at national level and about 200 at institutional level on Corporate Planning, Organizational Structures, Productivity, Managerial Effectiveness, Managerial Stress and Health Management, Retirement Planning, Alcoholism in Industry, and Counselling Techniques for Managers.

E. Development of Voluntary Sector

Since voluntary sector has to play an integral role with the Central and State Governments in implementation of various programmes, ISHA has worked with over 500 NGO's in providing training in management, project management, community participation, monitoring and evaluation of the programmes, strengthening the programmes, self-reliance, financial sustainability; development of publicity materials for innovative projects. Produced a 55 mnts documentary on "Reaching the Unreachable - Role of Voluntary Sector" to create awareness on the role effectiveness of the VOs and motivate young persons to strengthen the voluntary sector.

F. Health Education and Community Health Development

Towards health and development of the community, particularly high risk groups - youth, women, industrial workers, and the elderly, ISHA has been training the representatives of the NGOs to develop as health educators, and has been directly conducting programmes in Karnataka State. So far, ISHA has covered nearly 60,000 high school and college students, about 15,000 drivers, mechanics and operators, and about 10,000 youth, male and female in 200 slums of Bangalore with regard to healthy behaviours - nutrition, smoking, reproductive health, alcohol, safe sex behaviour, STD - HIV-AIDS, and management of stress related behaviours. ISHA has trained nearly 5000 representatives of VOs in health education.

G. Disaster Preparedness and Emergencies Management

Since India is having increasing number of natural and man-made disasters, ISHA has been conducting about, four programmes each year for the last 15 years both at national and institutional levels. Nearly 60 programmes have been conducted. ISHA has helped develop Action Plans for on-site and off-site disaster preparedness plans for many State Governments and Institutions. These programmes have been for Central Government Medical Officers, Coal India, Steel Authority, State Governments, Police Department, Voluntary Organizations, Electricity Boards and Petrochemical Industries.

H. Future Programmes

ISHA would be starting from November 2003 one year distance learning programmes in the areas of Hospital Management, Health Management, Public Health, Nursing Administration, Industrial Health, Counselling Techniques, Legal Aspects of Health Care, and Family Health.

I. Capacity Building Programmes

Towards capacity building, ISHA has worked with nearly 5000 institutions in the public, private, industrial, and voluntary sectors in training its senior health and managerial personnel.

As mentioned above, ISHA has carried out large number of assignments on capacity building. Here are few examples of such programmes.

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi .

To improve efficiency of health services in the CGHS dispensaries and hospitals and capacity building in teaching and research faculty, ISHA was assigned a long term project. ISHA conducted 32 programmes in the clinical and administrative field covering nearly 1200 senior professionals, professors, and administrators. List of programmes conducted is available.

2. North Eastern States

Towards effective implementation of health and family welfare programmes, HIV-STD prevention and control, on behalf of Ministry of Home Affairs and North Eastern Council, Capacity building programmes were conducted for all the states. Representatives of the government, private and voluntary sector were oriented and action plans developed which are being implemented. ISHA has conducted about 20 training programmes in the fields of HIV-AIDS; Health Management; National Health Programmes Implementation. About 120 representatives in each state were selected.

3. Gujarat State Health and Medical Education Department

To strengthen the health services in Gujarat State, to improve efficiency of government hospitals, towards cost reduction, and quality assurance, capacity building project for all the Medical Superintendents, Professors, and Principals of Medical Colleges was initiated. One week training programmes were conducted to develop leadership, planning and managing capabilities, motivation and commitment, team development, designing systems for patient satisfaction, quality assurance, roles and responsibilities, and delegation of powers, Action Plans were established.

4. Karnataka State Government

For training of programme officers at State level and medical officers at district, taluq, and PHC levels as well as Principals of Medical Colleges, ISHA has conducted about 30 training programmes in health services management and preferred a comprehensive report on Reorganization of Karnataka Health Systems.

5. Health and Development of Tibetans in India

Towards socio-economic and psychological rehabilitation and health effectiveness of Tibetans in India, ISHA has worked for the last 20 years in training its project managers in health project management, health policy formulation, has visited all the Tibetan projects in India, training its health personnel in primary health care, tuberculosis management, STD control, and health services management.

6. North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd, Shillong

Toward socio-economic and industrial development of North-Eastern states, NEEPCO has to play a critical role. This requires management and technical manpower development. ISHA has been charged with the responsibility of capacity building for managerial effectiveness, stress management, and health towards Corporation's productivity and profitability.

7. National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd

Power is the core sector for development of the country and quality of life of its people. NTPC is an organization of national importance with units in various regions to generate and distribute power. ISHA has been given the responsibility to train managerial and health personnel in managerial effectiveness, counselling skills for managers, managing stress, health maintenance, training of medical and para-medical personnel in providing health services of quality for patient satisfaction and minimization of legal issues.

8. World Health Organization, New Delhi

Keeping in view the Goal of Health For All and Role of Leadership in Primary Health Care, at the initiative of WHO, organized series of national level meetings on "Leadership for Primary Health Care" for senior Central and State Level Officers, Training Programmes for District Health Officers on Strengthening District Health Services; Training Programmes on Teaching and Research Methodologies for Principals and Teaching Faculty of Health and Family Welfare Training Institutes all over India, during 1986-1991.

9. World Health Organization, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Government of Indonesia

At the initiative of WHO South East Asia, conducted series of training programmes for Health Administrators at national level, District Health Officers, and Principals and Faculty of Training Institutes on Management of Health Services at Jakarta and Bandung. Helped develop a Distant Learning Programme on Primary Health Care for medical and para-medical staff of Primary Health Centres and Sub-Centres during 1990-1996.

10. Improvement of Medical Services in Coal India Subsidiaries

Towards improvement of health services in Coal India subsidiaries, management of health services needed to be upgraded. Coal India decided capacity building programme for medical superintendents of all Coal India Hospitals. A four-week programme covering behavioural aspects, cognitive aspects and operational aspects was initiated for 28 medical superintendents. The efficiency and productivity of the hospitals has improved. Series of training programmes of one-week duration have been conducted for all the Coal India subsidiaries.

11. Steel Authority of India

Steel Authority of India is the largest industrial unit in India and of critical national importance. Six-to eight training programmes were conducted for the medical, nursing, and senior managerial personnel for Bhilai, Bokaro, Durgapur, and Rourkela Steel Plants.

12. Voluntary Organizations - USAID Assisted Project

USAID had assisted 52 NGOs all over India under PVOH I and II projects. ISHA was selected to help develop capabilities of Project Administrators. During a two year period, series of
initiatives were taken:

(a)   One to two weeks training programmes on managerial and leadership development - project formulation, project management, community participation, need assessment, and motivation of staff.

(b)   Visit to innovative and effective projects were arranged to learn methods and systems.

(c)   Projects were evaluated and action plans developed for effective implementation of the projects.

13. Capacity Building of Medical Teaching Faculty

Series of programmes for faculty capacity building programmes for effective teaching, research, and administration have been carried out for JN Medical College, Belgaum; all Government Colleges in Karnataka; VM Medical College and Koraput Medical College, Maharashtra; PSG Institute of Medical Sciences, Coimbatore; Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar; Vinayaka Mission Medical College, Salem; Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi; Christian Medical Colleges, Vellore and Ludhiana; and St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore, and medical colleges at Mangalore. Prepared an excellent book on Innovations in Health Sciences: Medical Education, Training, and Research.

14. Disasters Preparedness and Emergencies Management

1990s being declared as International Decade for Disasters Preparedness, in collaboration with World Health Organization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, and Department of Public Enterprises, New Delhi, ISHA has been organizing training programmes for policy makers, administrators, technical managers, and medical personnel. Todate, 25 programmes covering over 700 officers have been conducted. Series of programmes have been conducted for critical organizations: State Governments of Assam, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Indian Petro-Chemicals, Indian Oil Refineries at Baruni, Haldia, Baroda, Kudremukh Iron Ore, Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board, Central Power Research Institute, medical colleges, port trusts, and industrial hospitals.

15. Clinical Waste Management and Infection Control

Towards professionalizing hospitals, have initially studied the clinical waste, waste water, and infection control systems in nearly 2000 hospitals - government, private, corporate. To train medical, nursing and administrative personnel, have conducted so far four national level seminars to sensitize and develop systems.

16.  Organizational and Managerial Health of Public Sector Enterprises

Towards organizational development, productivity, and managerial effectiveness, ISHA has conducted over 200 training programmes at national and institutional levels on: Managerial Stress and Health; Organizational Excellence and Health; Retirement Planning, Adjustment and Health; Sick and Healthy Organizations.

17.  Ordnance Factory Hospitals

Towards strengthening the Ordnance Factory Hospitals, ISHA has conducted series of training programmes for the medical officers. To develop the young doctors in medical technology, diagnosis and treatment. 75 doctors, three doctors from each factory, were provided two-week training in collaboration with Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry

   Towards competency building in emergency medicine, doctor from Ordnance Factories are being trained at Vellore in collaboration with Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore.

   For Capacity Building, ISHA has published books, reports, and scientific Journals, case studies, Assessment Technologies, and prepared films.

18.  Capacity Building of NGOs

Conducted about 50 training programmes all over the country for representatives of NGOs in project management: Counselling HIV-AIDS, Drug Addicts, Alcoholics, Commercial Sex Workers; geriatric problems.