Duration: March 2021 – March 2022
Status: Completed
Funder/ Partner: Thakur Family Foundation
The idea of establishing a public health cadre in India has long been the intent of policy planners in the country. The task force on universal health coverage in 2011, recommended the formation of two new cadres, namely, the health systems management and public health cadre (Planning Commission of India, 2011). This was further reiterated by the National Health Policy in 2017 (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2017). India’s states generally adopt a scheme-driven public health system which follows the lead of the central government even though ‘health’ is a state subject. Tamil Nadu is one of the few states in India that already has a separate directorate for public health cadre established in 1922. This cadre is separate from medical services cadre and focuses on the management of health care measures at the population and primary health care level. The study proposes to critically assess whether establishing a dedicated public health cadre in the North Eastern states would benefit them in improving their health indicators while also addressing the region’s specific challenges. The study will also critically assess the current gaps seen in public health indicators, delivery systems, governance structures and fiscal capability along with response to health disasters and emergencies in North Eastern states.