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The demand for healthcare services has expanded so much that the industry at Rs 70,000 crore, is among the fastest growing sectors in the country. While the central and state government health services provide essential hospital services in the rural and urban areas, the basic infrastructure and the quality of services are inadequate to meet the growing requirements of an increasing population. Health services in the country require not only an infusion of more doctors and specialists, but professional services of trained manpower to manage hospitals and medical facilities. The last 10 years has seen a huge development in this sector with private organisations and MNCs setting up multi-specialty hospitals. This has in turn stimulated the need for trained professionals to manage the health services. Work wise Healthcare administration or hospital management, as it is also called, provides management skills for the delivery of health care services. Doctors and medical specialists have so far been managing hospitals and health centres, without possessing the necessary managerial training. Moreover, it takes away precious time required by doctors to carry out their medical responsibilities. Therefore, of late, most large and medium-sized hospitals have a hospital administrator with a management team responsible for management of the healthcare services and medical staff, for planning and control, for continuous supply of materials, the management of the research and clinical work, and so on. In most large hospitals the administrative set-up has both medical and non-medical administrators. While the technical aspects such as procurement of equipment and medical supplies, research work, recruitment and training of medical staff and the management of medical services is carried out by medical administrators, or doctors, hospital management professionals handle other responsibilities. The work of hospital managers therefore includes the recruitment and management of non-medical staff, the maintenance of the hospital and of services other than medical services, accounts and finance, marketing and communications and security. Hospital managers work from the premises of the hospital and need to be physically present in the hospital complex. They need to walk around the hospital and monitor the different services. They also need to maintain good communications with the management and staff of all departments, doctors and medical specialists, paramedical staff, health workers, and ensure the well-being of all patients. Besides an understanding of the functions of the different departments, hospital managers should be familiar with financial operations, personnel management, purchase of materials and storage, organisational development and patient care. Getting admitted Those interested in the medical field, can look at hospital administration as a good option. To get into this field you can take up a postgraduate diploma in hospital management, or a graduate level course in public healthcare or health care services. SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, Symbiosis Centre of Health Care, Pune, and Indian Institute of Health Management Research, Jaipur, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, are some of the institutes that offer PG diploma courses in Healthcare/Hospital Administration to graduates of any discipline. The University of Pune offers a B.Sc in Hospital Administration, as well as a PG diploma in health education. The Tata Institute of Social Services, Mumbai, and the Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration, Hyderabad, offer a Master’s in Hospital Administration for medical and non-medical graduates with a minimum of 50 per cent marks. There are also courses in health and family welfare management, offered through distance learning from the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, and IGNOU which offers PG diploma in Health Administration through correspondence for graduates with some related experience. Course clues The postgraduate programme is open to students from all disciplines. Doctors too can be admitted to this course. The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and Delhi University’s Faculty of Management Studies offers a Masters/MBA in Hospital Administration for MBBS graduates with 3-5 years of experience. The programme combines training in management skills, management principles, accounting and business communication, along with specialised knowledge on the working of a hospital, marketing of hospital services and logistics management. You also get to know about basic healthcare and nutrition, prevention of communicable diseases, community health and other medical related services. Placement prospects Today, the management of hospital and health services has assumed a professional status. Many hospital and pharmaceutical firms are setting up professionally managed centres for providing multi-specialty healthcare services, and need managers who have an understanding of general management and its application to the healthcare delivery systems. So, if you are good with people, have patience, tact and communication skills you can look at a fulfilling career as a manager or consultant with a hospital, nursing home or clinic, working to help people with medical problems. With some experience you could also set up your own nursing home or hospital. —
The writer is a noted
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