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(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Developing Talent in Healthcare

(NOVEMBER-2023)

Developing Talent in Healthcare

Introduction:

Recent reports indicate that India has only about 0.65 physicians and 1.3 nurses per 1,000 people, testifying to a shortage of skilled healthcare workers. Hence, there is an urgent need to tap the human potential, especially of rural youth and women, to overcome these shortages.

Background:

To meet these ever-growing demands, India needs another 15.4 lakh doctors and 24 lakh nurses. The expansion of initiatives like Ayushman Bharat is further likely to increase the need for healthcare personnel not only in the larger cities but also in the smaller towns and villages. Thus, there is an urgent need to enhance the numbers of trained health personnel across various categories to achieve at least 2.5 doctors and 5 nurses per 1,000 people by the year 2023-24. The National Health Policy has also recommended strengthening the existing medical education system and developing a cadre of midlevel healthcare providers. NITI Aayog’s strategy for New India@75 had also aimed at generating 15 lakh jobs in the public health sector by 2022-23.
While a high proportion of rural population is seeking jobs, there is a dearth of trained manpower in the healthcare/allied sectors. Thus, for meeting the demand, need of the hour is to provide necessary skill-sets to the population through appropriate training programmes. For improving employability of the masses, the Government has recently undertaken several initiatives, including skill development in healthcare related sectors.

National Education Policy:

National Education Policy (2020) has brought vocational education to the forefront. It stresses on exposure to vocational education not only at the higher education level but at the secondary/middle levels as well. It states that the school children should get exposed to vocational education for its smooth integration at the higher education level; and proposes that every child should learn ‘at least one vocation’ and get exposed to several more. To oversee its efficacy, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) intends to constitute a National Committee for the Integration of Vocational Education (NCIVE) comprising experts in vocational education and representatives from various ministries. Incubation centres will be set up in higher education institutions in partnership with the industry; and the National Skills Qualifications Framework shall be detailed for each vocation, discipline, and profession.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to Skills and Employability

SDG-4: Targets relating to skill development

4.3 Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university

4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations

SDG-8: Targets relating to employability

8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

8.b By 2020, develop and operationalise a global strategy for youth employment and implement
the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organisation.

Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) –

A recognized awarding body, with support from industry experts, academia, ministries and regulators, assesses & certifies the skill qualifications of candidates in healthcare sector including AYUSH, social sector, and hospital management services.

Its mission is to create a robust and sustainable industry aligned quality skilling ecosystem for healthcare sector for bridging the gap between demand and supply through skilling, reskilling and upskilling. As stipulated by NCVET, its critical functions are:

Development of national occupational standards
Development of appropriate courses and their curricula
Accreditation and affiliation of training institutes
For the trainees - Assessment and certification, placement support and job creation/aggregation

In addition, the Competency Enhancement Programme (CEP) aimed at promoting skill development and continuous learning covers the healthcare sector too.

In collaboration with the industry partners, it addresses the issues, such as infection control & prevention, health & wellness, first aid, geriatric care, maternal & newborn care, mental health, e-health and handling of specialised medical devices by the technicians, etc.

Conclusion and Way forward:

Effective collaborations between NGOs, private sector, and the village administration for education and empowerment of rural populations, particularly in the field of health, nutrition, and allied sectors for strengthening the rural health infrastructure, are urgently needed. In addition, there is a need to create awareness among the masses regarding the existing programmes/ schemes so that our people can reap the full benefits.
Sensitisation, awareness generation, skill training, and talent development along with strengthening of entrepreneurial abilities among our rural masses, particularly in the healthcare sector (already posing an extremely high demand for the trained healthcare workers) will go a long way in making them an asset for the family, community, and the country as a whole.