With an aim to augment the government of India’s ‘Skill India’ flagship project and to create a robust and vibrant eco-system for quality skill development in the healthcare sector, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) signed a 5-year memorandum of understanding 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 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 NCDs.

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) & monitoring & evaluation programmes for industry, governrnent-central/ state/ MNC’s/ world bodies in healthcare & associated areas on important issues in public health will be developed and conducted by PHFI and PHD Chamber.

Through this MoU, PHD Chamber will work to place the issue of public health on every corporate boardroom agenda. The focus of public health in PHD Chamber is to advocate for curative and preventive health beyond that of the employees and dependents into the community and the less privileged ones. The focus areas have been prevention and management of NCDs, research, healthcare innovation etc. among others through projects and programmes.

Similarly, PHFI will fortify its mandate to respond to redress the limited institutional capacity in India for strengthening training, research and policy development in the area of public health, and develop various capacity building initiatives for primary care physicians in the field of NCDs and CVD.

Dr. Mahesh Gupta, president, PHD Chamber lauded the timing of the MoU and 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.”

Stressing on the need to upgrade skills in the healthcare sector, Prof. K Srinath Reddy, president, 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.”