Paper short abstract:

The Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies 50% of the global demand for vaccines. It has the second-largest share of the pharmaceutical and biotech workforce. Yet, suffers from the triple burden of medical skilling. In this paper we conduct a Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification analysis and tie it up with the capabilities approach to identify the gaps in health skilling.

Paper long abstract:

The Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies fifty percent of the global demand for vaccines. It has the second-largest share of the pharmaceutical and biotech workforce. Yet, the country suffers from the triple burden of medical skilling - the shortage of qualified professionals, the lack of 21st-century skills like transversal and soft skills among the health staff, and the lack of specialists.

Globally, India ranks third in pharmaceutical production (by volume), and fourteenth in value terms. Indian pharmaceutical exports touched USD 24.44 billion in FY21. Foreign direct investment in the sector stood at USD 17.99 billion between April 2000 and March 2021. The Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies fifty percent of the global demand for vaccines. It has the second-largest share of the pharmaceutical and biotech workforce. As per the Economic Survey 2021, the Indian pharmaceutical market will grow threefold in the next decade. Yet, the country suffers from the triple burden of medical skilling. By the triple burden of health skilling, we mean the shortage of qualified professionals, the lack of 21st-century skills like transversal and soft skills among the health staff, and the lack of specialists.

We apply the capabilities approach to identify the gaps in the space of health skilling. There are hardly any studies that apply the capabilities approach to the space of health skilling. Mitchell et al (2017) is the only existing study that conducts a review of studies applying the capabilities approach to the health field.

In this paper, we will be focusing on the following issues:

1. Increased demand for skilled labor force for the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain: vaccine production, distribution, and delivery process

2. Increased demand for skilled medical professionals possessing both core and people-centric skills

3. Increased demand for specialists possessing both core and people-centric skills

4. Strategies for India’s medical tourism, internal and abroad

5. Missing skills curriculum, anticipation, matching, and jobs: A case study from West Bengal

Given the triple burden of health skilling the following strategies may be useful. This is in addition to improving the medical infrastructure in the country. Initiatives by the Central government like the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, the setting up of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana across 12 new locations are some of the much-needed health sector reforms that were long pending.

• Pay greater focus on the inculcation of transversal skills among health care professionals. Transversal skills are core or soft skills that are required by health professionals to work in a people-centered care system. These skills are of three categories: skills for managing people-centered care; (ii) skills for managing complex tasks; and (ii) skills for creating a positive work culture. People-centered care adopted by both government and private sector health professionals will improve closer collaboration between patients and health professionals. It can help strengthen internal medical tourism. India already ranks 10 out of 46 countries on the Medical Tourism Index.

• There is a global lack of psychiatrists in India. Post- covid the demand for mental health professionals has increased considerably. In this context, India can aim to be the next telemedicine tourism hub. There was a rise of 20 percent in mental health professionals during the pandemic in India itself.

• eHealth skills need to be quickly adopted by medical professionals. ICT skills have gained greater prominence for sharing and communicating information across multi-disciplinary teams. The ethical issues associated with tele-counseling need to be well understood.

5. Missing skills curriculum, anticipation, matching, and jobs: A case study from West BengaL

West Bengal is a state located in the eastern region of India. The state is suffering from a serious skill crisis not only in health but also in other sectors. This is due to lack of effort by the state government in developing the skilling ecosystem of the state. Also, a concerted failure to attract industrial magnates to set up industries, create more jobs and entrepreneurs. The state suffers from the triple burden of health skilling. The skilling courses at the school level (West Bengal Board of Secondary Education) do not incorporate any training on health and pharma related courses. Training post schooling is also limited with minimal placement opportunities and entrepreneurial activities. As per the skill development attractiveness matrix, health care ranks high on youth aspirations.

The Government of India should consider setting up a separate skilling body and exercise for the vaccine and pharmaceutical industry focussing on developing and distributing Covid related vaccines and medicines. The Covid vaccination skilling exercise needs greater focus. The country requires more entrepreneurial activities in this context other than the initiatives by the major players. A STED or skills anticipation and matching exercise requires quality data and regular intervals. There is a major lack of data and policy coordination in West Bengal to conduct any such analysis. The large-scale unemployment and youth not in education and employment reflect the same. Along with the STED analysis we need to conduct a consistent application of the capabilities approach to identify the gaps in the space of triple burden of health skilling.

Reference

Mitchell, P. M., Roberts, T. E., Barton, P. M., & Coast, J. (2017). Applications of the capability approach in the health field: a literature review. Social indicators research, 133, 345-371.