Healthcare Systems Management: CPSP upgrades diploma to postgraduate membership programme

The Department of Medical Education (DME), College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSP) on Thursday announced up gradation of its diploma programme in Healthcare Systems Management into Postgraduate Membership Programme in Healthcare Systems Management (MCPS-HCSM). Programme Director of HCSM DME, CPSP, Professor Minhaj A Qidwai in a statement has also invited membership and opening of admissions to the programme for the year 2015-2016.
The programme has been designed for candidates, interested in pursuing their career in Healthcare Management. It is geared towards those, working in public or private healthcare organisations; such as teaching institutes, hospitals, community based organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations.
It will help students to become agents of social change, besides becoming effective leaders and managers of healthcare delivery. Students will be able to practically apply the learning in their work set-up. Recognised by PMDC, a highly trained faculty is responsible to run of interactive and supervised learning that facilitates application in managing any public or private sector of healthcare organisation.
Dr Qidwai said MCPS-HCSM's curriculum follows the principles of adult learning. This enables the participants to activate current knowledge and assimilate new information presented in a structured format for on-the-job application. The strategies adopted in the program were said to encourage critical thinking, analytical skills and application of knowledge. The course is developed in the context of current management issues faced by healthcare professionals and provides opportunity for practical application of concepts in real life situations.
During the contact sessions, opportunities are provided to enhance learning through various methods such as plenary, group discussions, case studies, resource sessions, panel discussions and field visits. The education material focuses on research, education, and systems; to be followed by their training at the work place. After successful completion of programme, the participants will be able to analyse the contemporary healthcare systems; use scientific and evidence based approach, for provision of quality healthcare, which is efficient and cost-effective.
They will also be able to apply epidemiological and statistical concepts, for better planning and management of health related issues besides applying principles of financial management, to allocation of resources, priority setting and decision making. Demonstrate use of health information systems and technology, in effective management of healthcare organisation. Market healthcare services, focusing on consumer behaviour and needs.
Apply concepts of human resource management, to optimise performance and effectively manage healthcare systems at different levels of care, to achieve organisational goal and objectives. The two-year programme is divided into 2 halves of 3 semesters each and in each semester of first half, the participants will be required to attend contact sessions for the duration of one month at CPSP, Karachi.
In the second half, there will be contact sessions only in the first two semesters. In the sixth semester, there will be no contact session and the time will be spent towards finalisation of research paper and its publication. Medical and Dental Graduates with at least two years postgraduation experience in healthcare are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to those who may have experience of working in a managerial position as well as those with post-graduate qualification in related field. Application form can be obtained from the Department of Medical Education (DME), CPSP Karachi or any of its regional centres besides its international centres located in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nepal.