Dr. Ananya Samajdar
Deputy Director - Research-
She handles studies for WHO, works with MHRD on higher education, academic leadership projects and IPP programme. ...
Public Health
Public Health is a key focus area for GRAAM as evidenced by the fact that a significant portion of its research work and advocacy efforts are in the domain of public health. Within public health, GRAAM is working on the following issues.
National Health Policy
Dr. R Balasubramaniam and Rohit Shetti presented inputs based on GRAAM’s experience in public health in a State level consultation conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India in Bangalore.
This presentation focused on demedicalization of health, ways of addressing regional disparities in health, better working conditions for frontline workers, strengthening of community monitoring initiatives, quality issues in health care and being prepared for the ageing population of India. More importantly moving away from the approach of integrating AYUSH into mainstream and considering it as an alternative to building the health care system of India keeping its inherent and traditional knowledge at the centre.
NDPS Act
GRAAM engaged in the facilitation of bringing together stakeholders to amend certain provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The amendment seeks to ensure the availability of essential narcotic medicines to patients while upholding regulations on preventing misuse and diversion. The amendment also seeks to have a uniform national policy on the selected medicines.
Discussions were held with stakeholders, MPs of different political parties and also with key bureaucrats in the Ministries of Health as well as Finance to bring awareness and highlight the importance of the amendments required. The amendment to the act was proposed and it was passed by the Parliament of India on 21st Feb 2014.
Regional disparities in health services in Karnataka
GRAAM’s evaluation of the National Rural Health Mission in Karnataka has found severe regional disparities in health services in Karnataka. Study recommended a relook into funding approach and strongly advocated to shift from facilities based funding to a need-based funding approach.
Policy for chronic diseases
Being a member of Karnataka Knowledge Commission’s Mission group on Public Health and Department of Planning’s Expert Group on Health, Dr. R Balasubramaniam has been able to make an active contribution to a policy for chronic diseases.
Projects / Programmes
- Ongoing Projects
- Completed Projects
| # | Name of the Project | Assignment Partner | Thematic Area | Project Type | Assignment Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perspectives and practices of tribal traditional healers on health and health systems across different states of India: Mixed method study | Piramal Swasthya Management and Research Institute | Public Health | Development Research | Dec 2022 - Dec 2023 |
| 2 | A study of the health status needs and access of the nomadic tribes of Jammu and Kashmir | World Health Organisation | Public Health | Development Research | May 2023 - Dec 2023 |
| # | Name of the Project | Assignment Partner | Thematic Area | Project Type | Assignment Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demand Side Assessment of Primary Health Care in Assam | World Health Organisation | Public Health | Development Research | Sep 2019 - Jun 2020 |
| 2 | Outsourcing Formulation of Policy Options and Legal Implications for Enabling Prescription and Dispensing by Mid-Level Health Workers and Nurses for Primary Health Care in India. | World Health Organisation | Public Health | Development Research | Jun 2019 - Dec 2019 |
| 3 | Adolescent Wellbeing- a Preliminary Study in Karnataka’s Government Schools | PAGE Industries Limited | Public Health | Development Research | Oct 2019 - Mar 2020 |
| 4 | Evaluation study of Out Of Pocket Expenditure Incurred for Maternal Health Care by BPL Women in Karnataka in Public Health facilities. | Karnataka Evaluation Authority (KEA) | Public Health | Social Impact Assessment & Evaluation | Jan 2019 - Mar 2020 |
| 5 | School Toilet Requirement - Need Assessment Study | Toyota | Public Health | Social Impact Assessment & Evaluation | Oct 2018 - Dec 2018 |
| 6 | Project Samvarthana: A Convergent Approach to Child Survival & Development | UNICEF | Public Health | Strategic Consultation | Nov 2015 - Oct 2016 |
| 7 | Study of Health Need Assessment in the selected Graam Panchayat of Ramanagara District, Karnataka | Toyota | Public Health | Strategic Consultation | Sep 2015 - Nov 2015 |
| 8 | Study of the Performance of 24 X 7 PHCs in the ‘C’ Category Districts of Karnataka | Karnataka State Health System Resource Centre (KSHSRC) | Public Health | Social Impact Assessment & Evaluation | May 2014 - Oct 2014 |
| 9 | NISHTHA: Transforming Comprehensive Healthcare in India | Jhpiego | Public Health | Community Consultation | Dec 2020 - Mar 2023 |
| 10 | A study of nutrition among tribes - a project in collaboration with Azim Premji University | Azim Premji University | Public Health | Development Research | Apr 2013 - Nov 2014 |
| 11 | Public Engagement meetings for Urban CPHC | Karnataka Health Promotion Trust ( KHPT) | Public Health | Community Consultation | Dec 2021 - Sep 2022 |
| 12 | Assessment of the Implementation of Ayushmaan Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) in India | National Health System Resource Centre (NHSRC) | Public Health | Social Impact Assessment & Evaluation | Oct 2020 - Jun 2021 |
| 13 | Community Need Assessment | Stelis Biopharma Limited | Public Health | Strategic Consultation | May 2022 - Sep 2022 |
| 14 | To support case-study on Civil-society Participation in India’s Pandemic Response | World Health Organisation | Public Health | Development Research | Sep 2022 - Feb 2023 |
| 15 | Rapid policy assessment and analysis to identify gaps that need interventions for integrated NCD service delivery | World Health Organisation | Public Health | Development Research | Oct 2022 - Dec 2022 |
Partnership & Collaboration
