A study of current public health programs in India revealed that 44 universities offered a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) course, encompassing both medical and non-medical institutions (Tiwari et al., 2018). However, the absence of a central regulatory body resulted in significant variability in the curriculum and core competencies across these programs. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) released a model curriculum aimed at addressing these shortcomings, developed by a Taskforce on Public Health Education that included experts from India and the UK.
Despite this effort, the acceptability and feasibility of the new curriculum among universities remained uncertain, particularly due to the lack of a central accrediting agency. Literature indicated that challenges such as insufficient faculty, low student interest, and limited job opportunities could deter the establishment of master’s level courses in public health.
The study sought to critically appraise the proposed MPH model curriculum alongside existing institutional practices. It also aimed to assess the resources available to students, including teaching materials and academic research opportunities, as well as government support for universities and job prospects for graduates. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the deficiencies in public health orientation within India’s healthcare services, highlighting an urgent need for a responsive MPH curriculum that prepares graduates for careers in public health. The study aims to understand how effectively public health education could lead to a well-trained workforce capable of addressing community health needs.
