PHDCCI and PHFI sign MoU for skill building in healthcare

The MoU aims to develop and facilitate worksite wellness programmes and training workshops for healthcare professionals on chronic diseases across India, especially prevention of NCDs

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) for launching a joint programme to organise capacity building initiatives in skilling healthcare professionals especially in the areas of chronic diseases and prevention of non communicable diseases (NCDs).

The MoU signed by Dr Mahesh Gupta, President, PHD Chamber and Professor K Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI, will undertake a country-wide initiatives to conduct training workshops for industry, government (central/state) and MNCs on important public health issues, with a special focus on Non Communicable Diseases.

In his address Dr Gupta said, “The Indian healthcare sector today is growing at a brisk pace and this MoU comes at a time when the Skill India Movement is looking at bringing about convergence. Along with PHFI, a key partner that has already developed capacity building and academic programmes, PHD Chamber renews its commitment to address the shortage in human resources in health through this MoU, hence being instrumental in advocating to corporates sustainable approaches in Indian healthcare sector.”

Pointing out the major constraints faced by healthcare professionals, Dr Gupta emphasised that this sector in India is suffering with overworked professionals as there is a severe shortage of staff. The skill development workshops can be used across India to scale up and get this workforce to be competent in the healthcare space.

Stressing on the need to upgrade skills in the Healthcare sector, Prof K Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) emphasised, “The healthcare sector is expected to drive the growth of the economy as well as play a significant role in employment. In spite of notable progress and many positive developments, deficiencies in human resources both in terms of skills and numbers continue to pose a challenge for healthcare sector, affecting ‘Universal Health Coverage for All’. This MoU is a landmark initiative and will provide training on best practices in healthcare to a large spectrum of professionals in order to improve their employability and work towards a healthier India.”

Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in its 2012 report estimated a shortage of 6.4 million allied health professionals in the country. The report highlighted the gap in both; sheer number of professionals of various specialties as well as the quality of skills acquired by the graduating students from several hundreds of institutions across the country.

The MoU will aim and work to develop and conduct training workshops for healthcare professionals on chronic diseases across India and to develop and facilitate worksite wellness programmes with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Heads, particularly for the prevention of NCDs. Training workshops (training of trainers) as well as monitoring and evaluation programmes for industry, Govt-Central/State/MNCs/ world bodies in healthcare and associated areas on important issues in public health will be developed and conducted by PHFI and PHD Chamber.

healthcare workforceMoUPHD Chamber of CommercePHFIPublic Health Foundation of Indiaskill building