ICRI launches global Masters in Health Administration

Rising income levels, growing elderly population, changing demographics along with shift from chronic to lifestyle diseases has led to increased spending on healthcare delivery in India.

In order to bridge the widening gap between demand and supply of qualified professionals in the country, ICRI has entered into an alliance with Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), USA to offer Masters in Health Administration - Global.

Shiv Raman Dugal, chairman board of directors, ICRI, said, "The Indian healthcare industry is seen to be growing at a rapid pace and is expected to become a $280 billion industry by 2022.

Consequently, there is a need for an appropriately skilled team of hospital administrators who can plan and carry excellent health services. With the approval of the Foreign Universities Bill, students interested in Indian higher education are riding a wave of optimism and we aim to provide the right platform.

The association with MUSC would help ICRI deliver on the growing demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals in India."

The alliance would further establish domain understanding in the field globally and provide an international framework for structured education. MUSC would undertake responsibility for the quality academic orientation in healthcare management Industry, training methodologies, evaluative studies, project assessment along with the knowledge exchange.

Dr Mark Sothmann, dean and professor, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), said, "I am sure the students will benefit tremendously from this course and we wish them the very best. The ICRI - MUSC alliance has actually given us an opportunity to address the growing demand for professionals in India. This combination brings immense potential to furthering the cause of healthcare management in India."

Major General Dr. M Srivastava, director health, ICRI said, "With healthcare administration being a global industry serving global requirements, educational institutions involved with programmes in healthcare administration need to have a curriculum which match the high standard requirements of Industry worldwide. This partnership is aimed at importing such innovative education through an international exchange of knowledge dissemination in healthcare management Industry."

As per a report by Yes Bank and ASSOCHAM, the healthcare industry in India is projected to grow 23% per annum to touch $77 billion by 2012, from the current estimated size of $35 billion.