Bridging gaps: Empowering India's healthcare workforce for a stronger future

Imagine a corporate system functioning without management departments, or employees working with incomplete knowledge, would it be counted as a perfect working organisation?

- PR SODANI

Similarly, despite significant advancements in India's healthcare sector over the past two years, the industry still grapples with complex challenges related to its workforce. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the healthcare sector in 2024, will be one of the country's largest employee industries, estimating a workforce of 7.5 million healthcare professionals. Still, issues of training, retention, and management occur as a primary challenge in this industry, which is not only an administrative concern but has a direct impact on the quality of care received by millions of patients every day.

Training: Bridging the skills gap

Indian health care ranges from crowded metropolis hospitals to a remote rural clinic suffering a range of unresolved problems that require serious attention to be addressed now. What students are taught in healthcare institutions varies from what is needed in on-site fields.

The Indian healthcare market, which was valued at US$ 110 billion in 2016 is now projected to reach US$ 638 billion by 2025, revealed by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF). The integration of modern technology and tools has revolutionised healthcare sectors. On the contrary, numerous healthcare professionals have revealed that the Indian health industry is significantly behind Western countries.

The reason for this gap is the traditional curriculum, which emphasises theoretical knowledge over practical skill build-up.

Will reforming technology be worthwhile for the 7.5 million human capital in the health sectors, if the gap between technological advancements and patient care continues to widen?

Retention: Keeping talent in the field