Centre for Commercial Determinants of Health (CDOH)
Introduction
The 'Centre for Commercial Determinants of Health' (CDOH) builds on and expands close to two decades of research and actions by the Institute in areas of tobacco control and prevention of non-communicable diseases. Commercial Determinants of Health are commercial activities that affect health and health inequities in communities/societies. The public health impacts of commercial forces emerge from a combination of factors operating at multiple levels: the consumption of commodities and services; the market, business, and corporate-political activities of commercial entities; and broader economic structures. The health impacts are mediated through various pathways including social, cultural, environmental and political. The CDOH has a vision to contribute towards creating a future where commercial and economic policies/practices are better aligned with the goals of enhancing people’s health and health equity. The Centre’s goals for the next five-years (2025-2030) include creating a body of evidence and a network of engaged researchers and practitioners related to Commercial Determinants of Health.
Mission
While the CDOH focuses on Commercial Determinants of Health, it acknowledges that these forces do not operate in isolation and their impacts are experienced differentially by different communities based on the prevailing social (and environmental, political) determinants of health. The Centre seeks to promote inter and trans-disciplinary work through diverse teams and partnerships. The Centre primarily uses social science methods and has a preference to examine, explain and address upstream determinants with implications on regulatory, legal, and economic reforms that mitigate harms and promote synergies between commercial and public health interests. The CDOH works closely with other Centres and the TTN School of Advanced Studies at IPH Bengaluru as well as several external collaborators/partners to build an interdisciplinary program of work at the Centre. The Centre engages in research, capacity building, public engagement as well as advisory support to governments and non-government agencies.
Themes/Work Areas
Researching the Commercial Determinants of Health
Our primary interest is to critically examine and meaningfully apply CDOH concepts to better understand and address public health issues/challenges. We prioritise certain thematics outlined here but are open to engage and explore other relevant issues/challenges.
Building Research & Action Capacity for CDOH
We build knowledge and skills around the social and cultural determinants of health. By fostering collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and communities, CDOH strengthens capacity for action. Our focus is on creating learning opportunities and resources that promote equitable health systems.
Public & Policy Engagements
We engage with public institutions, policymakers, and communities to shape health policies and practices. Our work focuses on translating research into actionable insights, fostering dialogue, and creating platforms that connect evidence with real-world decision-making. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen policies that address the social and cultural determinants of health.
Projects in CDOH
DRITHI
This research examines the evolution and determinants of public policies on psychoactive substances in India, focusing on tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and opium. It traces their trajectory from industrial-scale production under colonial rule to the present. The study analyses how these policies have shifted over time and the extent to which powerful legal industries, despite their well-documented public health harms, have shaped policy narratives, regulations, and market dynamics. By mapping these influences, it seeks to reveal the political and commercial interests that have driven both change and continuity across historical periods.
Centre Team
Key People
Upendra Bhojani
Senior Fellow (Prof) & Centre Head
Pragati Hebbar
Senior Fellow
Achyutha NG
Research Manager
Sreenidhi Sreekumar
Assistant Professor
Anand Kumar
Fellow (Asst Prof) & Doctoral Scholar
Ragavi TS
Research Officer
Shilpi Shikha Das
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Mentors
Prof (Dr) Atul Ambekar
Professor
National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Prof (Dr) Fran Baum
Professor
University of Adelaide, Australia
Prof (Dr) Anna Gilmore
Professor
University of Bath, United Kingdom
Contributors
Dr. Cheri Kuncheria
Historian
New Delhi
Mr. Pranay Lal
Independent Scholar
Dept of Health and Family Welfare Services, Government of Karnataka
Collaborators
The CDOH collaborates with individuals and organisations. We work closely with some of the state and national government agencies and many civil society organisations. Some of the ongoing collaborators are mentioned here.
We welcome any outreach to discuss collaborations.
