The Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC), a not-for-profit organization promoted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), NSDC and leading healthcare service providers in India, and Skills-for-Health, UK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate and work together in the area of healthcare skills.

The MoU was signed by Dr Naresh Trehan, chairman, Healthcare Sector Skill Council and John Roger, CEO, Skills-for-Health, UK. The MoU was formally announced during the UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s State visit to India on 19th February 2013.

The healthcare sector in India has grown at a CAGR of 12.4 per cent over the last 5 years and is estimated to increase at a CAGR of 17 per cent to reach USD 250 billion by 2020.  While the healthcare sector in India is expanding, the biggest challenge for the sector is shortage of skilled workforce. Availability of physicians, nurses, mid-wives is far below global standards.

Furthermore, there is no standardized vocational education available in the country for allied healthcare and paramedics whereas demand and role of allied health & paramedics in the healthcare space is ever growing.  It is estimated that India needs 0.85 million anaesthetists and technicians trained to run an operation theatres, 2.04 million dental technicians and hygienists, 0.13 million ophthalmologists and optometrists 0.23 million medical staff like dieticians, 61,000 medical lab technicians, 19,000 radiographers, etc.

Both the organizations - HSSC (India) and Skills-for-Health (UK) - recognize that there is a huge scope for mutual cooperation and learning between India and the UK in skill development in allied healthcare & paramedic space.

Skills-for-Health has a unique combination of experience, expertise and institutions which could be of immense help to HSSC in India in creating the proposed eco-system for quality vocation education to meet its needs for a trained workforce in allied healthcare and paramedics.
 
On the other hand HSSC (India) which is embarking on a primarily industry-led and industry-driven eco-system will be a case of interest to the UK – as Sector Skill Councils in the UK are exploring ways of making their own system more industry–aligned, participative & self-reliant.