With an aim to fill the gap of the public health challenges by developing the capacity of health system of both Central and State Governments the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) runs 5 such centers across the country.
IIPHB is currently serving the Government of Odisha as a technical assistance partner in developing the State Health Policy for the state. It works very closely with the Government of Odisha on applied research topics that have direct bearing on policy changes. The faculty and students of the institute work closely on subjects that have a practical relevance to some of the existing problems in the public health sector. The Institute is equipped with the state of the art infrastructure and a very competent team of multi-disciplinary public health faculty, headed by the Director.
Currently the Institute is providing two courses such as Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Management (PGDPHM) & Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Services Management (PGDPHSM) and has plans to add Post Graduate, Integrated MSC and PHD level courses in subjects like Bio Statistics, Clinical Research and Health Informatics in future.
Designed to enhance the capacity of public health managerial workforce the Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Management (PGDPHM) is a 12 month regular course that the IIPHB has been conducting since last 7 years. The applicants should have a graduate/postgraduate degree in medicine, Ayush, dental, nursing, pharmacy, health sciences, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, natural/life sciences, management, social sciences, social work, economics, statistics or any equivalent qualification.
Apart from the regular course, the institute also provides an option for distance learning through the Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Services Management (PGDPHSM) course for professionals who are working in different health related fields. The duration of the course is one year. Applicants looking to apply should bear a graduate/post-graduate qualification, currently engaged in public health related activities or engaged in National Health Programs.
The admission to both the courses will be strictly on merit. The course design is competency driven and caters to multiple-disciplines. The teaching methods include seminars, group assignments, quizzes, case studies and role plays. The Institute also offers professional skills development program (PDP) to prepare the students for employability after course completion. The institute has a track record of 95% career placement of its students at the successful completion of PGDPHM.
Considering the abundant opportunities in the health sector, IIPHB has collaborated with many national and international organizations such as UNICEF, JHPIEGO, TSRDS, L V PRASAD, Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana, RMRC, SAWAK and many others to render placement to the candidates. During the course the students will receive on field practical training under a qualified faculty. They further conduct research, teach post-graduate students and also facilitate various workshops and training programs.
Dr Lipika Nanda, Director of IIPHB said, “Our close collaborations with the state government and with international agencies are aimed at creating an environment of evidence-based policy discourses and reforms in health sector in the State. IIPHB is committed towards contributing to public health education, training and research for the state of Odisha”.
Dr Bhuputra Panda, Associate Professor and Course Coordinator said, “The public health situation in the Country and in the state needs both government and non-government support. There is a need to place public health experts at Gram Panchayat level. Our aim is to impart public health education and training to more number of committed professionals so that remarkable improvements in population level health outcomes become a reality over five to ten years period”.