After the approval of the Foreign Universities Bill by the government, ICRI, the pioneers in healthcare and clinical research education, has entered into an academic/strategic alliance with Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to offer Masters in Health Administration-Global. Eminent faculty and administrative staff of MUSC were present during the launch. This alliance would help strengthen the roots of ICRI globally and further the cause of grooming professionals in upcoming healthcare administration Industry in India, to face exciting challenges posed by the Industry and also pave the way for new career opportunities in the field.
Shiv Raman Dugal, chairman Board of Directors, ICRI commenting on this association said, “The Indian Healthcare industry is seen to be growing at a rapid pace and is expected to become a US$ 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. We as an institute are constantly benchmarking ourselves to international best practices in our domain by offering various programmes that would cater to the industry needs.”
“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 by getting into an alliance with MUSC, one of the finest universities in the field of medical health in the United States. The association with MUSC would help ICRI deliver on the growing demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals in India,” Dugal added.
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.
On arrival in India and speaking on the occasion, Dr Mark S 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. I am delighted to enter into such a partnership. The perfect combination of Institute of Clinical Research (India)’s networking with the Indian healthcare sector and MUSC University’s distinctive competences in healthcare management data studies bring 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 imparting such innovative education through an international exchange of knowledge dissemination in healthcare management Industry.”
According to the Investment Commission of India, the healthcare sector has experienced phenomenal growth of 12 per cent per annum since 2006. Also in accordance to another report by Yes Bank and ASSOCHAM, the healthcare industry in the country is projected to grow 23 per cent per annum to touch US$ 77 billion by 2012 from the current estimated size of US$ 35 billion. Rising income levels, growing elderly population, changing demographics along with shift from chronic to lifestyle diseases in the country has led to increased spending on healthcare delivery. In order to meet the widening gap between demand and supply of qualified professionals, ICRI aims to provide a global perspective on the health care environment, yielding graduates who would possess an understanding of the universal challenges facing health care managers and the requisite leadership qualities and skills required by a global society
