What is the difference between PGDHHM and MPH programmes?

• While a Masters in Public Health (MPH) caters to students with more focused healthcare goals, PGDM Hospital and Health Management is for those who are more interested in managing hospitals and health systems
• PGDM in Hospital and Health Management equips graduates to apply the principles of general business management in the public as well as the corporate health sector
• Pursuing PGDM in Hospital and Health Management enables graduates from diverse educational backgrounds to work at executive positions in leading health, hospital and health IT organisations
• PGDM in Hospital and Health Management also widens the horizon of career opportunities in the healthcare sector

Earning a PGDM (Hospital and Health Management) gives students an edge by making them competent in financial skills to effectively manage funds to gain maximum health benefits in low resource settings, while simultaneously building their proficiency in operations and process optimisation in hospitals and the healthcare industry.

A professional degree in business administration in health also builds soft skills, team leadership skills, communication skills, strategic and analytical thinking, creative thinking, problem-solving and decision making, time management skills, networking skills in students which prove to be an added advantage in the healthcare sector.

The most fundamental advantage is a flexible career option and increased job opportunities which help individuals passionate about making universal health care a reality to take up leadership positions in hospitals and healthcare organisations across the country. 

Why choose PGDM (Hospital and Health Management) at IIHMR?

The PGDM in Hospital and HealthManagement offered by International Institute of Health Management Research - IIHMR, Delhi is equivalent to MBA and provides the optimum knowledge and skill mix to foster effective leaders and managers in the healthcare industry. The program is of two years duration, where the first year aims at cultivating multi-disciplinary skills of health systems, management principles and communication which are common to all students. In the second year, the students are required to opt for a specialization in any of the three streams: Health Management, Hospital Management or Health Information Technology Management. The students are given ample opportunities to actively engage with industry through lecture discussions by experts as well as field visits during the delivery of their course modules.

In addition to this, the PGDM (Hospital and Health Management) program includes direct industrial experience through two-month Summer Training at the end of the first year when the students are placed in designated Hospitals and Health care organizations where they gain practical exposure and hands-on training. The program also requires students to conduct research in his/her area of interest and submit a dissertation at the end of the two-year period, wherein they identify a management problem in a Health/Hospital/Health IT management area and offer solutions in a methodical manner.

To sum up, IIHMR creates industry-ready managers who have the necessary knowledge and skills to take up various roles, address challenges and solve problems in the health care sector, as already demonstrated by successive batches of alumni.

About the author

Dr. Rupsa Banerjee is an Assistant Professor at International Institute of Health Management Research - IIHMR, Delhi. She has done her MBBS and MD in Community Medicine from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Karnataka, following which she completed DNB in Community Medicine. She also received PG Diploma in Mental Health from IGNOU and Diploma in Community Mental Health from NIMHANS. Rupsa is a public health professional with over 7 years of diverse experience in the fields of medical education, clinical and patient care, public health research, health systems strengthening, providing technical support to public health programmes and capacity building. 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha