The Transformation Tracker

Women worldwide face significant challenges in accessing healthcare for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with two out of every three women succumbing to NCDs annually, resulting in up to 19 million deaths yearly. In India, Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to 60%of all deaths. The four major causes of NCD deaths are Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Hypertension (45%), Chronic respiratory disease (22%), Cancers (12 %), and Diabetes (3%) 1 . A 2012 study examining the health status of elderly women in rural India showed that hypertension is the most common NCD (78 percent of respondents were reported to have the disease), followed by osteoarthritis (73 percent), diabetes (66 percent), and bronchial asthma (77 percent) 2 . The prevalence of NCDs among women is 62 per 1,000, as compared to 36 per 1,000 men. Hypertension, depression, gastrointestinal illness, and diabetes are the most common NCD morbidities in the country. These staggering statistics underscore the urgent ne...

  The India Health Policy & Systems Research (HPSR) postgraduate fellowship program, launched by HSTP in 2021, stands as an award-winning flagship initiative in the Indo-Pacific region. This groundbreaking program aims to empower early to mid-career researchers and practitioners in health policy and systems research, fostering a critical mass of experts across key institutions in India. From its inception, the program has prioritized inclusivity, ensuring gender balance and regional diversity among its recipients. Notably, 12 out of the first 20 fellows were women, showcasing the program's commitment to equity. Over the years, the program has seen equal representation from both genders, embodying its principle of inclusivity. With fellows hailing from 22 states and union territories, deliberate efforts to promote diversity have enriched the learning experience and contributed to the program's success in fostering a more representative research community. Moving forward, t...

The theme for the 51st Annual National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine – IAPSMCON 2024 organised by the Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, was “Transformations for achieving SDGs: Innovate, Integrate, Implement.” Speaking on “Health System Strengthening for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)- Need of the Hour” on February 9, 2024, Dr Sudha Chandrashekhar (Advisor, HSTP) shared key insights on how Health System Strengthening (HSS) impacts achieving UHC: Role of HSS in UHC: Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) is vital for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It involves purposeful efforts to enhance the performance of healthcare systems, aligning with the objectives of national health policies. HSS ensures quality, equity, efficiency, accountability, resilience, and sustainability in healthcare delivery. Challenges to Government: Disease-oriented funding with limited coordination among partners and poor a...

  Rajeev Sadanandan (CEO, HSTP) writes The Tata Trusts have been working on reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in India in partnership with Dell Technologies and the Government of India through its NCD portal. We are happy to share that the Tata Trusts have collaborated with the Health System Transformation Platform (HSTP) for the management of the NCD portal. This is a significant step forward for HSTP in its mission to impact the healthcare ecosystem of our country positively. Nearly 65% of all deaths and a corresponding level of morbidity in India are due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). WHO estimates suggest that every year around 5.8 million people die from NCDs (CVD, lung diseases, cancer, and diabetes) and that every 1 in 4 Indians has a risk of dying from NCD before reaching the age of 70 years.  The cornerstone of the Government of India’s (GoI) National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases is the screening of the population estimated to be...

  To strengthen the healthcare quality, accessibility, and availability across the country, HSTP works to build the capacities of the health workforce and enhance the quality of policies concerning it. By focusing on bolstering the competency of Frontline Workers (FLWs), HSTP is dedicated to elevating the skills and expertise of vital healthcare providers, aimed at delivering effective and high-quality care. It is also committed to nurturing leadership qualities among health managers, empowering them to catalyse positive transformations within the healthcare system. Strengthening HRH policies is another integral part of the system since issues such as forecasting, deployment, career progression, compensation, and retention of health workers continue to pose significant hurdles within the Indian healthcare system.  Leadership Development Program for Officials in the State Health Department The Indian healthcare landscape is rapidly changing, and this warrants effective leadersh...

At the Health Systems Transformation Platform (HSTP), 2023 has been a year of overcoming roadblocks, reaching milestones, strengthening our partnerships with the states of Odisha and Meghalaya, foraying into the state of Chhattisgarh, and continuing our work in the cities of Mysuru and Bhopal . Here’s looking back at the year that was. Strengthening Public Health Systems in Odisha In strengthening the public health system in the state, HSTP worked closely with the Government of Odisha on various strategic initiatives in 2023. One of the pivotal contributions was the development of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) Claim Adjudication Manual , in collaboration with the State Health Assurance Society and the Department of Health and Family Welfare. This manual is aimed at facilitating an efficient and transparent claim adjudication process, crucial for the effective allocation of resources, reducing the risk of inappropriate payments, and ensuring the financial stability of the heal...

  Dr Sudha Chandrasekhar (Advisor, HSTP) participated in a pivotal panel discussion at the ‘Times Health Excellence – Telangana & AP – 2023’ event organized by The Times Group and IndiGlobal Media Network. The discussion revolved around the important topic of 'Accessible and Affordable Quality Healthcare' - a subject of paramount importance in the contemporary healthcare landscape. Dr Sudha with other panellists at the event Here are the key insights from Sudha’s contributions during the discussion: The theme ‘Time for Action’ concerning Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is apt with the changing healthcare landscape, rising costs of healthcare, and new challenges being faced by people. There is also limited time left to reach the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) by 2030. India can achieve UHC when states achieve them individually, as health is a state subject in the country. Currently, there is a ⁠huge variation in commitment and action at the state level. Telangana's ...

Significant Achievements in Our Partnership with the State As a strategic partner to the Government of Meghalaya for strengthening its health system, HSTP conducts research and shares evidence-based recommendations to bridge gaps and enhance public health services. This month, a draft policy for Specialist and Public Health Cadres developed based on a comprehensive assessment by HSTP has been opened for public input. Additionally, the state-wide rollout of Internal Performance Agreements where HSTP provides technical assistance to the Department of Health, has marked a significant stride toward a more robust healthcare system.  HSTP’s support areas in the state of Meghalaya include health financing, resource planning for health, Human Resources for Health (HRH), and digital health. The team undertakes research to facilitate evidence-based decision-making in policy and program implementation. The goal is to address current gaps within the health system, enhance the delivery of publi...