Dissatisfied with the quality of data in the health sector and its non-availability for knowledge generation, the Centre proposes to develop a database of research resources in this field.
The research resources would include manpower and equipment available with different laboratories, medical and dental colleges and universities across the country.
This is one of the proposals of the Knowledge Management Policy for Health Service, Education and Research mooted by the Department of Health Research.
The final draft document of the policy also focuses on enhancing public-private-partnership in health, and preparing a national information system of research funding by different funding agencies.
The draft document also advocates developing a database of diseases including clinical, epidemiological, genetic, biological and social parameters, and focuses on achieving a high impact of research by effectively communicating research outcome. Importantly, it aims at empowering health research institutions to use tools of Knowledge Management for improving quality research as per the guidelines of Medical and Dental Councils and other related councils, and regulatory bodies.
Admitting that the health sector was faced with the challenge of inadequate dissemination of knowledge, the proposed policy says its focus would be on creating an environment for connecting knowledge related activities in health into a coherent action plan covering all systems of medicine and spreading general awareness regarding health and hygiene, and importance of health insurance.
“The policy aims to change the focus from the people who manage knowledge to those whose health is managed,” the draft says. Knowledge management envisages capturing, creating and managing knowledge.
It seeks to create a National Health Knowledge Repository for free access to all researchers and to encourage the use of knowledge management for creation of different application groups and development of various disciplines like biomedical engineering.
The proposal works towards sensitising people for maintaining good health through dissemination of health information using resources media and mobiles which will make available updated information about the service infrastructure in public, private, voluntary and self help groups sector available at different levels including sub-centre, primary health centre, community health centre, district hospital, zonal hospital, medical college and tertiary care hospitals. In doing so, special emphasis would be given to marginalised and deprived sections of society.
The policy envisages developing unified high quality standards in health education across the country, updating knowledge of health professionals by conducting online continued medical education and evaluating quality of in-service health personnel by conducting online examinations.
