Chronic Health Conditions & Public Policies
Chronic conditions are the health issues that require ongoing management over a period of years or decades. They include chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) but also a few communicable diseases and conditions (like disabilities) that lasts longer. The chronic conditions are on the rise globally and in India, where it has become a leading cause of deaths and disabilities. There are several factors implicated in the rise in chronic conditions, from genetics and individual lifestyle to changes in demography and the broader environment. Therefore,
In this cluster, we are specifically interested in how health policies and policies across other related sectors impact prevention and control of chronic conditions at a population level, including the major risk factors for such conditions such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet and inadequate physical exercise. The cluster builds on the premise that broader social determinants of health operating at the macro- and the
Hence, our focus on public policies and intersectoral actions for health. In this context, we are also interested in studying the increasing role being played by commercial entities in shaping the epidemic of chronic conditions as well as the policy responses. The cluster aims to deepen our work on some of the relevant concepts/approaches including but not limited to ‘social determinants of health’, ‘political economy of health’, ‘health-in all policy’ and ‘harm industries’.
Tobacco control
In India, 28.6% of adults and 14.6% of youth – in total over 26.7 crores (~ 266 million) are the current users of tobacco in some form. Tobacco use causes over 12.8 lakh (~1.2 million) deaths every year in India. Total economic cost from all the diseases caused by tobacco use in India in a year is estimated to be INR 104500 crore (~ 1045 billion). Tobacco use is a common major risk factor for chronic conditions, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. This thematic explores empirical ways to reduce tobacco use in India and the associated health, economic and ecologic burden.
Road Safety
Road crashes are the leading cause of death in young people aged 15 – 29 years. Globally each year about 1.3 million people lose their lives in road crashes. Nearly 90% of all road fatalities occur in low- and middle- income countries, which have less than half of the world’s vehicles. In India, one road crash happens each minute and one life is lost to road crashes every four minutes – with over 150000 individuals losing their lives in road crashes each year. Under this thematic, we explore how to strengthen policies for road safety and their implementation at different levels.
Multisectoral Actions for Health
Health is seen as a dynamic state of physical, mental and social well-being. Health, especially at a population level, is impacted by several social, economic, environmental, cultural and political factors. Hence, enhancing population health requires coordinated actions across sectors, beyond just the healthcare sector. This thematic explores ways of engendering multisectoral actions for health and promoting health through public policies across different sectors (health-in all policy approach)
- Shah R, Shah R, Bhojani U, Shah S. Dentists and tobacco cessation: moving beyond the willingness. Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry 2017;15(3):263-264
- Hebbar PB, Bhojani U, Kennedy J, Rao V. From policy to practice: lessons from Karnataka about implementation of tobacco control laws. Indian Journal of Community Medicine 2017;42(2):77-80
- Bhojani U, Soors W. Bringing evidence into public health policy: enhancing equity and engendering intersectoral action for health. BMJ Global Health 2016;1(Suppl 1):A1
- Bhojani U, Soors W, Yellappa V, Ahluvalia A (eds.) Bringing evidence into public health policy (EPHP) 2016. Equitable India: All for Health and Wellbeing. BMJ Global Health 2016;1(Suppl 1):A2
- Rao N, Bhojani U, Shekar P, Daddi S. Conflicts of interest in tobacco control in India: an exploratory study. Tobacco Control 2016;25(6):715-718
- Bhojani U, Soors W. Tobacco control in India: a case for Health-in-All Policy approach. National Medical Journal of India 2015;28(2):86-89
- Bhojani U, Hebbar P, Rao V, Shah V. Litigation for claiming health rights: insights from tobacco control. Health and Human Rights 2014
- Bhojani U, Venkataraman V, Manganawar B. Challenging ties between state and tobacco industry: advocacy lessons from India. Health Promotion Perspectives 2013;3(1):102-112
- Van Olmen J, Criel B, Bhojani U, Marchal B, Van Belle S, Chenge MF, Hoeree T, Pirard M, Van Damme W, Kegels G. The health system dynamics framework: the introduction of an analytical model for health system analysis and its application to two case-studies. Health, Culture and Society 2012:2(1)
- Bhojani U, Elias MA, Devadasan N. Adolescents’ perceptions about smoker in Karnataka, India. BMC Public Health 2011;11:563
- Bhojani U, Venkataraman V, Manganawar B. Public policies and the tobacco industry. Economic and Political Weekly 2011;XLVI(28):27-30
- Bhojani U, Chander SJ, Devadasan N. Tobacco use and related factors among preuniversity students in a college in Bangalore, India. National Medical Journal of India 2009;22(6):294-297
- Bhojani U, Devadasan N. What to do with the Epidemic of Diabetes – a Health Systems Response. Christian Medical Journal of India 2008;23(3-4):26-28
Books/Monographs
- Bhojani U. Youth and tobacco use: a monograph on perceptions, practices & policies. Bangalore: Institute of Public Health; 2013
Magazine/blogs/popular media
- Bhojani U. Curbing tobacco: K’taka success story. Deccan Herald; 2018
- Bhojani U. Strengthening the governance for effective tobacco control in India. Health For Millions; 2017
- Bhojani U. How tobacco industry is misleading people with its ads. Newslaundry; 2016
- Prashanth NS, Bhojani U. Modi-fying India’s health: health in the times of India’s new prime minister. International Health Policies; 2015
- Pan masala – a way for the tobacco industry
- Jithendra A, Bhojani U. How the tobacco industry wins friends and influences policy. Newslaundry; 2015
- Arora R, Bhojani U. The semantics of commitment. International Health Policies; 2015
- Jitendra A. Pan masala – a way for the tobacco industry to bypass the gutkha ban? BMJ Blog; 2015
- Hebbar P, Rao V. Tobacco or job? BMJ Blog; 2014
- Hebbar P, Bhojani U, Rao V. Television as a public awareness tool to reduce tobacco use in India. eSocialSciences; 2013
- Bhojani U. Killing interference. The Week; 2012
- Venkataraman V, Bhojani U. India: code of conduct on dealings with tobacco industry. News Analysis – Tobacco Control; 2011
- Bhojani U. When a picture paints a 1,000 words. Deccan Chronicle; 2011
- Bhojani U. Venkataraman V. India: court bans tobacco board from trade show. News Analysis – Tobacco Control; 2010
Others
- Education pack (2009) – This educational material was developed in collaboration with the District Anti Tobacco Cell (Bengaluru Urban) to be used by school teachers (and others) to raise awareness on tobacco use and associated harms among youth
- Media pack: collection of factsheets (2009) – This is a collection of five fact sheets on various aspects of tobacco use and policies including (1) tobacco and adverse effects; (2) tobacco and economy; (3) tobacco and livelihoods; (4) tobacco and taxation; and (5) tobacco control and public opinion. This was developed in collaboration with the District Anti Tobacco cell (Bengaluru Urban)
- Research brief on ‘Pre-university students and tobacco use in Bangalore city’ – This research brief summarizes the findings of a research study assessing tobacco use and related factors among pre-university students in Bangalore
- Policy briefs: Preventing non-communicable diseases through specific non-health ministries (2016) – This is a collection of 12 policy briefs on how policies of specific non-health ministries impact non-communicable diseases and their risk factors.
Here are the partners who have supported work of this cluster:
- Karnataka State Anti Tobacco Cell (Government of Karnataka)
- Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids
- World Health Organization (India)
- India Alliance (Wellcome Trust; Department of Biotechnology, Government of India)
- AXA Business Services
- Global Road Safety PartnershipDurham University
- Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation
31st National Road Safety Week – January 2020
1.5 lakh lives are lost every year and many more are debilitated on Indian roads due to road crashes. This causes the families of victims with immense economic hardship and emotional trauma. According to the WHO reports, road crashes are one of the leading cause of deaths among the youth between the ages of 5-29 in India and worldwide.
To make our roads safe for all road users and to reduce the crash rates, every year “National Road Safety Week” is observed throughout the country. The focus of the activities of this week is to create more awareness among road users about the road safety and to emphasize good road using practices.
To observe this year’s 31st National Road Safety Week, Institute of Public Health in association with HKBK Group of institutions and Indian Degree College under banner of Safer roads Bengaluru initiative organised a bunch of activities from 14th to 17th of Jan 2020 at our selected stretch of road in Bengaluru. Signature campaign #IResolve4RoadSafety, Quiz on road safety for public and college students, Human chains at major junctions are the main activities among all other activities.
We were at all major junctions of the selected stretch of road from Hebbal to K R Puram throughout the Road Safety Week. A signature wall with student volunteers was present at all the junctions seeking public commitment for road safety. Around 3000 people committed for safer road usage through signing on our campaign wall.
Quiz on road safety witnessed more than 5000 participation. Winners of the quiz were awarded with a ISI marked 2-wheeler helmets by #SaferroadsBLR initiative. We also engaged people through our social media platform Facebook and twitter for the broader reach.
Film Screening: Health in All and the Tribal Population in South India
The IPH Knowledge Management Committee invites you to attend the screening of "Health in All and the Tribal Population in South India." directed by professional filmmaker Lode Desmet. The film was made along with public health researchers at IPH, Bangalore and ITM,...
Public lecture at IIHS
The director at IPH, Dr. Upendra Bhojani, gave a public lecture at IIHS in the 'Publics' lecture series. The talk was on Dr. Bhojani’s long standing work on the role of local health systems in poor urban neighbourhoods in Bangalore. The talk...
ITM visit
The director at IPH, Dr. Upendra Bhojani, attended the Be-cause health international conference on Urban health, organized by the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. It was held on 15-16 October 2019 in Brussels. The conference sought to "address the following...
PGIMER 2019
The Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, organized the 2nd Public Health Policy and Management Program from 30th September to the 4th of October, 2019. The program was sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs,...
World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims
Every year, about 1.5 lakh Indians die from road injuries while about 5 lakhs sustain serious injuries. Karnataka, with a population of over 6.1 crores, accounts for the third-largest number of road injuries and the fourth-highest number of road traffic deaths in India.
To remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected, people around the world observe the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) in the month of November every year.
Institute of Public Health, Bengaluru in association with Maharani Cluster University, Bengaluru under the banner of Safer Roads Bengaluru initiative had organized an awareness program and human chain formation today by students of Maharani College, Padmasree school of public health and public health Professionals at heart of the city (from Freedom park to KR circle) to commemorate this Year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR).
Shri. P C Mohan, Member of Parliament inaugurated the program. Addressing the students, he said, “Karnataka alone witnesses around ten thousand deaths and more than 50000 injuries every year due to road crashes. Adhering to traffic rules is the only way to reduce this. Youth should stop showing negligence towards traffic rules. By following traffic rules, one can, not only save his own life but also contribute to safeguarding other’s life as well.”
Addressing the students, Dr. Asha Abikar, Deputy Director of State Road Safety Authority said “Bangalore city alone witnesses around 650 road traffic deaths every year. To safeguard the lives of road users, the Government has recently amended the Motor Vehicle Act and increased the fine amount. People especially Youth should follow traffic rules and become an asset for the nation.”
Dr. Upendra Bhojani, Director of the Institute of Public Health explained about the safer roads Bengaluru initiative and stressed the need for the people’s commitment towards road safety.
The event was presided by Prof. Dr. M.S. Reddy, Special Officer, Maharani Cluster University.
Mr. Kumaraswamy who lost his 20-year-old daughter in a recent road crash explained his painful story, how negligence towards traffic rules claimed his daughter’s life and requested students to follow traffic rules.
Tobacco Control
In India, 28.6% of adults and 14.6% of youth – in total over 26.7 crores (~ 266 million) are the current users of tobacco in some form. Tobacco use causes over 12.8 lakh (~1.2 million) deaths every year in India. Total economic cost from all the diseases caused by tobacco use in India in a year is estimated to be INR 104500 crore (~ 1045 billion). Tobacco use is a common major risk factor for chronic conditions, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. This thematic explores empirical ways to reduce tobacco use in India and the associated health, economic and ecologic burden.
Road Safety
Nearly 90% of all road fatalities occur in low- and middle- income countries, which have less than half of the world’s vehicles. In India, one road crash happens each minute and one life is lost to road crashes every four minutes – with over 150000 individuals losing their lives in road crashes each year. Under this thematic, we explore how to strengthen policies for road safety and their implementation at different levels.
Multisectoral Actions for Health
Health is seen as a dynamic state of physical, mental and social well-being. Health, especially at a population level, is impacted by several social, economic, environmental, cultural and political factors. Hence, enhancing population health requires coordinated actions across sectors, beyond just the healthcare sector. This thematic explores ways of engendering multisectoral actions for health and promoting health through public policies across different sectors (health-in all policy approach).
Upendra Bhojani
Cluster lead
Vishal Rao
Adjunct Faculty
Pragati B Hebbar
Faculty
Bruno Marchal
Adjunct Faculty
Amiti Varma
Associates
Werner Soors
Adjunct Faculty
Mahesh K
Associates
Neethi V Rao
Honorary Associates
Chandrashekar Kottagi
Associates