Today, UNICEF India, the International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) collaboratively introduced a comprehensive health course.
The launch of this course marks a significant advancement in UNICEF India’s commitment to the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH), introduced during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. Its objective is to enhance healthcare delivery by effectively utilizing digital technologies, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the GIDH.
During the course’s inauguration, Cynthia Mc Caffrey, UNICEF India Representative, emphasized its importance in fostering digital innovation within the healthcare system. She highlighted that the course equips healthcare professionals with advanced skills and leverages digital technologies to catalyze innovative solutions, ultimately enhancing healthcare delivery and reaching marginalized populations.
The course aims to meet the growing demand for digital health education and address the training gap among healthcare professionals. It spans ten weeks and comprises nine modules covering various aspects of digital health implementation. Beginning with an overview of the relationship between digital technology and healthcare, it progresses to planning national digital health systems, integrating digital interventions, and executing initiatives using an enterprise approach. Participants will develop skills in strategy development, enterprise planning, platform establishment, intervention execution, costing, procurement, governance, policy, regulation, workforce management, and explore future trends in digital health.
Prof. Sutapa B. Neogi, Director of IIHMR Delhi, highlighted the lack of training and education among health professionals in digital technology, hindering the effective utilization of digital health tools. This course aims to address this gap by providing healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of digital health implementation, thereby enhancing healthcare delivery systems, especially in underserved communities across India.
The course curriculum, developed in collaboration with experts from IIHMR Delhi, IIT Mumbai, and with technical inputs from UNICEF India, is tailored for the Indian context based on a global program offered by the Digital Health Centre of Excellence (DICE), co-led by UNICEF and WHO.
Dr. Santosh Noronha from IIT Mumbai expressed that the launch of this digital health course signifies collaborative efforts toward establishing a robust digital health ecosystem in India. Empowering healthcare professionals with digital skills is seen as a step towards fostering a healthier and more inclusive future.
The course utilizes a blended learning approach, which combines online modules, virtual lectures, interactive discussions, and practical workshops. Instructors are selected from a pool of experienced digital health professionals, subject matter experts, and academic experts. Learning is enriched through the use of case studies, group projects, networking opportunities, and knowledge sharing activities.
Source : IndiaEducationary
