India Health Policy & Systems Research Fellowships

We aspire to build the capacity of Indian mid-career public health researchers in Health Policy & Systems Research and create a community of practice.

India Health Policy & Systems Research Fellowships

We aspire to build the capacity of Indian mid-career public health researchers in Health Policy & Systems Research and create a community of practice.

Applications Open for Cohort 2023

HPSR Webinar : Systems Thinking for Health Systems Strengthening

HSTP HPSR Webinar Series on “Systems Thinking for Health Systems Strengthening” with Keynote Speaker Prof. Lucy Gilson

Inaugural of India Health Policy & Systems Research Fellowship: Cohort 2023

Inaugural was addressed by Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary to Government of India, Department of Health Research and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, & Prof. Barbara McPake, Professor, Nossal Institute of Global Health, The University of Melbourne.

India HPSR Fellows’ Corner

If you are an existing India HPSR fellow, access the Learning Management System (LMS) here

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About

An initiative of Health Systems Transformation Platform, the India HPSR Fellowship is organised in collaboration with Indian & International institutions with expertise in HPSR. It identifies twenty Indian mid-career public health professionals every year and trains them over a period of 18 months in HPSR methods along with practical experience of conducting a HPSR study.

Research with a systems perspective, that explores health issues within their specific contexts, is key for designing solutions for improved health outcomes. HPSR methods allow us to focus on the system as a whole and generate evidence for policy making. Hence, the vision for strategically building capacity of researchers and practitioners in HPSR, culminated in the development of the India HPSR Fellowship program.

The program is supported by the Sir Ratan Tata Trusts, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Access Health International.

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Structure

The fellowship aims to enhance capacity of Indian mid-career public health professionals in health policy and systems research methods including identifying policy processes, agenda setting, and stakeholder mapping that strengthens evidence-based policymaking in health.

The fellowship is a blended training program, spread over a period of 18 months, comprising online, face-to-face modules & mentorship for conducting a HPSR study. By the end of the program, fellows are expected to build a HPSR protocol, public/policy engagement plan and implement their research under the guidance of mentors.

The fellowship is a competitive award that will cover the fees for training, program travel, and planned field visits. The fellowship also makes available a grant to deserving research protocols to conduct the HPSR study.

  • Online phase (6 months) provides a detailed overview of various health system frameworks, policy analysis, framing research questions & application of HPSR methods using a health systems, complexity, and equity lens to develop a problem area in health systems or health policy and formulate an HPSR research question using appropriate research designs. During this phase, fellows are expected to invest 3-4 hours per week.
  • Face-to-face phase (1 week) allows for an in-person interaction with the faculty & strengthen the concepts taught in the online phase. By the end of this phase, the fellows will develop high value research proposals.
  • Mentorship & implementation phase (12 months) provides the fellows opportunity to conduct a HPSR study under the guidance of a mentor. During this phase, fellows are expected to invest 1-2 days per week on their research.
Certification

Participants will receive a Certificate on successful completion of all components of the fellowship program.

Curriculum

The curriculum and training plan was developed using a backward design. HPSR practitioners from across the globe participated in the development of the curriculum for Indian public health researchers. The pedagogy is learner-centred, keeping the participant at the centre of all learning activities in the course.

  • An overview of health systems and its analysis
  • An overview of health policy and its analysis
  • Characteristics of HPSR
  • Framing HPS research questions
  • Matching the HPSR questions with appropriate research designs
  • A brief overview of different HPSR methods
  • Writing a HPSR proposal
  • Conducting a HPS research
  • Policy and public engagement
  • Communicating the research
Learning-Methods

Expert Consultation on India HPSR Training Program

Review of India HPSR Fellowship Program Design

Theory of Change

India Health Policy & Systems Research Fellowship Program

Key Features
Pedagogy related
Research question driven
International review board
Outcome-based learning
Developed by experienced researchers
Introduced health policy and systems research
Mixed methods
Course related
From the field session
Peer learning
Tutor guided
Live interaction with SME
Get verified certificate
Moodle mobile app
Learn on the go, MP3 recordings
Gamification
Faculty

Core Faculty

Dr. Bruno Marchal
Institute of Tropical Medicine,
Antwerp
Dr. Devaki Nambiar
The George Institute for Global Health, Delhi
Dr. N Devadasan
Course Director – India HPSR Fellowship program
Dr. Dorothy Lall
CMC, Vellore.
Dr. Prashanth N Srinivas
Institute of Public Health,
Bengaluru
Dr. Rakhal Gaitonde
Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Trivandrum
Dr. Sara Van Belle
Institute of Tropical Medicine,
Antwerp
Dr. Sumit Kane
Nossal Institute of Global Health, Australia

Guest Faculty

Dr. Arpita Ghosh
The George Institute for Global Health, Delhi
Dr. Susmita Chatterjee
The George Institute for Global Health, Delhi
Dr. Soumyadeep Bhaumik
The George Institute for Global Health, Delhi
Dr. Upendra Bhojani
Institute of Public Health,
Bengaluru
Prof.-Barbara-McPake
Prof. Barbara McPake
Nossal Institute of Global Health, Australia
Prarthna Dayal
Nossal Institute of Global Health, Australia
Prof. Ajay Mahal
Nossal Institute of Global Health, Australia
Cohort 2021
Harsha Joshi, India Primary Health Care Initiative Project, New Delhi
“The reading material and discussions during the course are helping me comprehend the messy, complex nature of health systems and health policy.”
Akanksha Sonal, Assistant Professor, King George Medical University, Lucknow
“The way this course directly and indirectly cultivates insight and necessary communication skills in the mentee appeals to me”
Anuj Ghanekar,
Independent Researcher

“The fellowship offers a safe space for learning and experiencing health’s systems through self-reflection and critical discussions”
Anika Juneja, PhD fellow, Institute of Public Health, Bengaluru
“HPSR fellowship has sensitised me towards research that can be conducted in real time context capable of refining public health practice as it happens”
Ankita Mukherjee, Qualitative Researcher, The George Institute for Global Health India
“Fellowship has provided me with analytical tools to understand health systems which will helps bolster my future research.”
Deepshikha Chhetri,
Independent Researcher

Consultant, Samagra | Transforming Governance, New Delhi
“Insightful sessions on health policymaking process and impact of stakeholders at different levels provided necessary skills to be part of a policy team.”
Gitismita Naik, Independent Researcher
“A great learning opportunity with wonderful co-fellows from diverse backgrounds made complex concepts understandable.”
Anthony Stanley,
Independent Researcher

“Taught by some of the finest minds, I have developed a sound base to build on and carry out HPSR analysis.”
Jithesh Veetilakath, Asst Director, Kerala Health Services
“This fellowship helped bring clarity on stakeholder roles in policy making and systemic issues that I have been trying to understand for long.”
Ponnambily Chandy, Assistant Professor, Sathyabhama College of Nursing, Chennai
“The program builds confidence to implement heuristic analysis. I didn’t just learn ‘how’ to write caveats, ‘what’ and ‘why’ also became explicit.”
Mintu Moni Sarma, Programme in Charge, The Ant, Guwahati
“The sessions provide a positive and emotional environment to talk, discuss, suggest, present and debate issues. The openness of faculty to share their concerns and appreciation encourages us to reflect.”
Rekha M Ravindran, Senior Research Officer, State Health Systems Resource Centre, Kerala
“Guidance from faculty, supplemented by reading materials & peer activities, allowed me to figure out HPSR complexities.”
Tanu Anand, Scientist D, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
“HPSR fellowship format is well organised that makes learning easy and enabling. Peer engagement facilitates in learning complexities of HPSR”
Sabu K U, Post-doctoral fellow, Institute of Public Health Bengaluru
“Helped me to navigate the complex nature of health policy formulation and health system functioning in an organised & systematic way”
Cohort 2022
Arohi Chauhan
Independent Researcher

Gurgaon, Haryana
Divya CS
Project Associate

Young Professional, Navakeralam Karmapadhathi 2, Government of Kerala
Giridara Gopal Parameswaran
Post-doctoral fellow

One Health Trust (formerly CDDEP),
Bangalore, Karnataka
Jacob Islary
Independent Researcher,

West Bengal
Kalaiselvi S
Assistant Professor

All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Kuhika Seth
Independent Researcher

New Delhi
Manjula Bahuguna
Consultant – Research

Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action,
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Meghashish Sharma
Independent Researcher

New Delhi
Nafis Faizi
Assistant Professor

Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, U.P.
Pankaj Kumar Tiwari
Community Doctor

Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Chhattisgarh
Prasanna Thirunavukkarasu
Associate Professor

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Preetam Mahajan
Assistant Professor

JIPMER, Karaikal Campus,
Pondicherry
Radha Rao Valaulikar
Senior Manager

Piramal Swasthya Management and
Research Institute, Assam
Sandul Yasobant
Technical Officer (Research

Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG), Gujarat
Shweta Marathe
Senior Research Officer

SATHI, Pune, Maharashtra
Sunil Kumar Panigrahi
Assistant Professor,

All India Institute of Medical Sciences Deoghar, Jharkhand
Trusty Khumukcham
Public Health Specialist

Health Services, Manipur
Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy
Assistant Professor

ESIC Medical College & PGIMSR, K.K. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Cohort 2023
Adrija Roy
Research Officer

Regional Resource Centre for Health Technology Assessment
AMCHSS, Trivandrum
Priyanka Paul
Sr. Program Officer

Ipas Development Foundation, Assam
Amit Babasaheb Dhage
Community Health Physician

Jan SwasthyaSahyog
Ganiyari District Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
Rahul Rauny
Independent Researcher

Delhi
Anjali Krishnan R
Research Officer

State Health Systems Resource Centre
Kerala
Yasir Alvi
Assistant Professor

Dept. of Community Medicine, Hamdard Institute of MedicalSciences and Research, New Delhi
Cheryl NathanelAnandas
Research Manager

Apnalaya, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Sanjeev Kumar
Additional Professor

AIIMS Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh
Dama Khillo
Program Manager

Piramal Swasthya
Odisha
Shubham Gupta
Sr. Manager- Research

Sambodhi Research & Communication Private Limited, Noida, UP
Hariom Kumar Solanki
Assistant Professor

Community Medicine, Government Institute of Medical Sciences
Greater Noida, UP
Sneha Krishnan
Associate Professor

Jindal Global University
Sonipat, Haryana
Jackwin Sam Paul
Assistant Professor

Christian Medical College, Vellore
Tamil Nadu
Sushi Kadanakuppe
Associate Professor

Department of Public Health Dentistry, V.S.Dental College & Hospital
Bengaluru, Karnataka
MahalakshmyThulasingam
Additional Professor

JIPMER, Puducherry
Swathi Krishna.N.
Young Investigator

PRERNA, KEM HRC,
Maharashtra
Manikanda Nesan Sakthivel
Consultant
– Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), South Asia Field Epidemiology and Technology Network (SAFETYNET), Tamil Nadu
Swaathi Balasubramanian
Research Associate

IIPH Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Mohit Sood
Project Coordinator

Sangath India (Bhopal Hub), Madhya Pradesh
Vignesh L
Senior Resident

JIPMER Puducherry
Eligibility

An aspirant to this fellowship is

  • An Indian national
  • Post-graduate from a recognised Indian or International university
  • Employed/ affiliated with an organization working in public health or health systems domain in India
  • At least 3 years of research experience in any public health or health systems domain.
  • Basic knowledge of research methods in public health.
  • Passionate to conduct impactful research contributing to health systems and policy in India.
  • Motivated to develop a career in HPSR
Selection Process
  • 20 fellows are selected every year to undertake the fellowship.
  • Selection is through a competitive call. Call for application opens in November and closes on 31st December every year.
  • Applications are screened in a two-step selection process
  • Step 1 will exclude applications that do not fit the educational qualifications and research experience.
  • Step 2 will identify a shortlist of candidates ranked by a selection committee based on a rubric that includes:
    • Strength of the academic qualifications
    • Relevant work experience
    • Quality of the health systems/health policy problem identified
    • Strength of the motivation to join this course
  • The selection committee will consist of HPSR researchers involved in the curriculum drafting process, programme facilitators and mentors, and senior practitioners of HPSR.
  • Upon selection, the candidate is required to submit a letter of commitment for the entire 18-month duration authorised by the signatory of the organization where she/ he is employed/ affiliated
To Apply

Aspirants are required to fill an application form. This is available from November onwards every year. Before applying, check the eligibility & selection process. Applications to the fellowship programme will require you to upload the following:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • A Letter of Motivation (300-words) or a Video (3-minutes) explaining why you want to be an India HPSR Fellow
  • A brief preliminary research question based on health system problem analysis
  • Letter of Recommendation from your professional or academic reference.

The Letter of Recommendation must mention the following:

a) Connection with the person you are recommending
b) Assessment of the candidate’s suitability for the India HPSR Fellowship Program
c) Opinion on the ability of the candidate to complete the program

Applicants are required to ensure that the referee submits the letter of recommendation directly to the fellowship, the details of which are given in the application form.

*Applicants are encouraged to verify that all documents are submitted in a timely manner in order for the application to be considered complete by the application deadline.

If selected as an India HPSR Fellow Cohort 2023, a Letter of Commitment should be provided by the candidate as per the template provided.

Contact Us

If you have any queries, please reach out to us @ info@indiahpsrfellowships.org

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