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Health Matters is the quarterly newsletter of Max Institute of Healthcare Management (MIHM) at the Indian School of Business (ISB) and curates the latest healthcare-related research, events, and updates at ISB. Happy reading!
COVID-19 RESPONSE
image Improving access to Covid-19 testing
through systems strengthening
MIHM, with PATH, conducted a study funded by the Rockefeller Foundation to demonstrate cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable Covid-19 testing solution packages. We built a data-driven tool which can assist lab managers of public Covid labs in systematic planning and increasing the throughput while also reducing the turn-around-time (TAT) and the cost of testing. This tool was implemented in labs across Maharashtra and Punjab as part of planning for a possible third wave.
We also conducted model and in-field evaluation for in-lab process automation systems implemented by PATH and found that decentralised testing using Rapid Antigen Tests substantially improves performance by reducing the TAT, increasing access to testing and identification of affected people, and reducing the cost per person while maintaining test sensitivity during waves.
image What would it take India to vaccinate its population
Early this year, MIHM joined hands with the Center for Global Development Europe to develop cost-effectiveness models for vaccination in India. We studied how the government can maximise the rate of vaccination with existing resources and developed a supply chain model for Covid vaccine delivery. We tested three different vaccination strategies across three supply chain scenarios in Punjab and found that the central and state governments, to maximise the public health impact of limited vaccines, should try roping in civil society organisations and ASHA workers to mobilise the demand among the elderly.
Other key suggestions include leveraging social media for aggressive and focused campaigning to tackle vaccine hesitancy, setting daily/weekly targets for the age-mix of people, and having flexible slots to ensure the vaccine supply is not wasted.
NCD MANAGEMENT
image Pharmacies for hypertension management in rural India
Hypertension is a symptomless disease and often goes unnoticed, especially in rural areas. MIHM partnered with NanoHealth in Bihar to test how task-sharing can be leveraged in resource-constrained settings for the screening and management of hypertension. We piloted a study where pharmacists tied up with general practitioners to identify and treat patients of hypertension. During the five months of the prototype, the pharmacies screened 3,403 individuals, 1,415 of which were potentially hypertensive. About 740 individuals were newly identified.
Through the pilot, we were able to make people aware of their hypertension status and provide them appropriate doctor consultations. Although we were able to increase the overall number of people having controlled BP, the programme incurred a high cost and came with implementation challenges.
POLICY BRIEFS
Cost-effectiveness of community-
based care delivery for diabetes
The programmes under each of the three models (community health worker, telemedicine unit, and mobile medical unit) provided primary care for diabetes and improved health outcomes but were not cost-effective. Strategies to overcome barriers such as out-of-pocket expenditure should be sought by partnering with public payers or plugging into integrated health systems where the benefits of early diagnosis and disease management can be internalised through reduced diabetes complications.
Published in Indian Health Systems Collaborative (IHSC).
Lessons from primary care delivery models for universal health coverage
Hospital/clinic with community outreach and social franchising were identified as two dominant models of primary healthcare delivery (PHC) delivery in India. Community engagement and responsiveness to community needs, comprehensive services and addressing social determinants were identified as difficult but essential ingredients to achieving health outcomes. Individual level, financial, organisational and contextual factors emerged as challenges to good quality PHC delivery in India.
Published in Indian Health Systems Collaborative (IHSC).
OPINION PIECES
PE investments in Indian healthcare
|  Express Healthcare
Flip side of PE investment in healthcare
|  The New Indian Express
Private equity in healthcare a blessing or bane
|  The New Indian Express
Towards a telehealth ecosystem
|  Fortune India
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ALUMNI BUZZ
Funding Alerts
$5.7 mn
by BeatO
Gautam Chopra, PGP Co 2009
Abhishek Kumar, PGP Co 2009
$1 mn
by Navia
Gaurav Gupta, PGP Co 2017
$1.5 mn
by Elda Health
Swathi Kulkarni, PGP Co 2012
Alumni Spotlight
alumni PGP Co 2010 alumna Dr. Sujata Dhanuka talks about her transformational journey from being a pathologist to an agile industry leader in diagnostics. She was recently appointed the Head of Operations, Lupin Diagnostics.
Read more >>
IN THE NEWS
ISB to support Hyderabad-based
medicine firm to scale up
Telangana Today
Why doctors need to upskill through
management courses
Education Times
ABOUT US
Max Institute of Healthcare Management (MIHM) is an interdisciplinary research centre at the Indian School of Business (ISB) that provides deep insights on healthcare delivery and management to policymakers, public institutions and corporates, and enables the creation of better health systems through the integrated elements of Research, Education and Outreach. Its focus areas are (a) Managing healthcare delivery systems, (b) Financing and public policy, (c) Innovation and entrepreneurship, and (d) Patient centricity/consumer behaviour.
Write to us at maxinstitute@isb.edu.
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