The Indian School of Business (ISB), with campuses in Mohali and Hyderabad, is all set to launch a one-of-its-kind healthcare management programme (HMP), to groom doctors and healthcare professionals to deliver excellence in healthcare management and to enable them to move into leadership positions in the near future and drive the growth of the sector.

The one-year part-time programme, which will commence in January 2016, has been designed and developed by the Max Institute of Healthcare Management and the Centre for Executive Education at the ISB.

The Centre for Executive Education at the ISB focuses on the ongoing educational needs of corporate executives, entrepreneurs and government officials, through a portfolio of short-term open enrollment programmes and custom-designed programmes.

The Max Institute of Healthcare Management has been established within the ISB to work in the areas of education, research and impact projects, and provide thought leadership from a uniquely business and market perspective in the healthcare sector.

Analjit Singh, founder, Max India Group and founder supporter, Mohali campus of ISB, said, “There is a serious paucity of well-trained quality healthcare management professionals in India. The impressive increase in investment and capacity of the private healthcare industry in India in the last few years, accentuates this shortage. Further, as we deal with lives and care of our patients, the finesse required in management deserves specialised training. Management, science and art have to all come together.”

Singh added “This one year programme is a step to remove this glaring inadequacy in India’s healthcare set up. I often draw a parallel with the hospitality industry. India’s has had a remarkable success in supplying the best quality hospitality talent, not only in India but internationally as well. This has been possible because the quality and number of hotel management and training institutes. The best ones being backed by top hotel chains. I hope that the ISB one year programme can replicate success in a similar way for the healthcare industry.”

Announcing the programme, Ajit Rangnekar, dean, ISB, said, “The healthcare sector in India has reacted to numerous challenges in the sector with some very positive responses, including new delivery models, innovative business practices and investments in niche areas. A major consequence has been the professionalisation of the sector, thus creating a huge demand for management professionals. Consistent with our vision of grooming future leaders for India and the world, ISB’s healthcare management programme will address this need by creating future leaders and visionaries in the healthcare sector.”

The HMP has been designed in close collaboration with the healthcare sector, practicing professionals and academia. An Academic Advisory Council, comprising eminent faculty from across the world, provides academic oversight and an Industry Advisory Council that includes senior leaders from organisations like Max Healthcare Global Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare Ltd, Care Hospitals, and Narayana Netralaya brings in the industry perspective.

Elaborating on the objectives of the HMP, Pradeep Singh, CEO Mohali campus and deputy dean, ISB, said, “Considering the specialised nature of the sector and the fast pace of its growth, it is expected that future leaders will come from within the healthcare industry and allied sectors. A cadre of middle-management professionals needs to be groomed into leadership positions and drive the growth of this sector. The healthcare management programme has been created to cater to this need in a structured learning format.”

The HMP is a rigorous and challenging programme, designed as a 12-month, part-time programme. HMP will be delivered in a blended learning format comprising classroom and technology aided learning that minimises disruption at work and encourages personal pursuits. The programme will be taught by a combination of globally renowned faculty from ISB and other premier educational and capacity-building institutions from across the world. Participants have the option to bring in a live project from their own organisations or can bid for projects from other organisations.

Doctors who are looking to pursue a career in hospital management, professionals from healthcare delivery and allied sector organisations such as pharmaceutical, medical devices, diagnostics, clinical research and medical insurance, entrepreneurs and management consultants who wish to expand  their operations  and also get an in depth understanding of the sector can opt for HMP.

The HMP has already generated interest among several industry leaders, who will converge at a high powered session on ‘Challenges facing Healthcare Sector in India’ to mark its launch.

Analjit Singh, founder, Max India Group and founding supporter, Mohali campus of ISB will moderate the discussion, which will have participation from Ajit Rangnekar, dean, ISB, Dr Prathap C Reddy, founder chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr Naresh Trehan, chairman & MD, Medanta - The Medicity, professor M C Mishra, director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Malvinder Mohan Singh, executive chairman, Fortis Healthcare Ltd, and Rahul Khosla, MD, Max India and chairman, Max Healthcare.