Govt plans training for senior civil servants in public health

The Union health ministry is developing a training curriculum for civil servants who have recently been promoted to joint secretary or higher positions so that they can help tackle public health challenges confronting India.

There is a perception within the government that most civil servants of the Indian Administrative Service are generalists, which means senior officials from ministries other than health can be poorly equipped to deal with health issues.

The health ministry now wants to train senior officials who have it from other ministries to try and plug a gap that often results in loss of critical time in finding solutions.

Topics included in the curriculum reviewed by sources include public health, epidemiology, health policy and national program, health promotion and prevention, and disaster management.

The Human Resources for Health cell in the health ministry is working on a capacity building programme for officers and has already conducted two rounds of meetings.

The curriculum also includes mental health and mental health programs and responding to mental health emergencies; environmental and occupational health which issues such as air pollution, water pollution and sanitation; reproductive, maternal and child health.