Fixed Human Resource Norms in Indian Sub Centers - Does the Changing Times Necessitate Innovations?
Journal Title: Bonfring International Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management Science - Year 2013, Vol 3, Issue 2
Abstract
This study was conducted to understand the existing workforce availability and need for differential staffing norms within diverse contexts of sub centers (SCs). This included documenting the emerging patterns of SCs, studying the existing staffing norms, and assessing the ranges, quantum of services, work-pattern and work-load of service providers. Multiple case studies were used to document the diverse contexts of SCs along with review of secondary data. In-depth interviews of 97 service providers including Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), Multi-purpose Worker Male (MPW-M) and Rural Health Practitioners (RHP) was conducted to assess the characteristics, work-pattern and work-load across 69 sub-centers in Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Assam, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (U.P) and Meghalaya. SCs across these states were differentiated into various types i.e. collocated in Primary Health Centers (PHC) or standalone, delivery huts or non-delivery huts and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) clinics. While SCs in most states were providing minor symptomatic treatment, Antenatal Care (ANC), immunization services through outreach work, in few states, the focus had shifted from Maternal & Child Health Care services to detection of NCDs and adolescent health. This study found inter- and intra- state variations on workload, work pattern, staff deployment, Out Patient Department (OPD) attendance and areas of work of the staff deployed in SCs. Similarities and variations on workload and work pattern across SCs were observed across the state. Majority of SCs showed variations in terms of average number of villages, population served and geographical contexts across states. Assam SCs had heavy OPD attendance of upto 33 cases per day due to deployment of an additional mid level health worker in the form of RHPs while other states (i.e. Haryana, Chhattisgarh and U.P) had relatively low OPD attendance of upto 5 cases per day. While the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) prescribed 2 ANMs and 1 MPW (M) at each SC, the study found that 37 SCs (53.6 percent) had only 1 staff in place as observed in 6 states except in Assam where 8 SCs had 1 RHP at each SC along with either 1 or 2 ANMs, out of total 15 SCs studied. Staffing pattern at SC did not consider the geographical, social and work characteristics of SC. Our study findings demonstrates that flexible staffing norms is necessary which should be based not only on caseloads, but certain factors i.e. population served, emerging characteristics of the SC and geographical accessibility should be considered for rational deployment of ANMs at SCs. Besides, skill building of staffs, deployment of secondth ANM and an additional health worker i.e. RHP are crucial for optimal delivery of assured services at SCs. It could be complemented by adoption of locally appropriate retention strategies for staffs
Authors and Affiliations
Suchitra Lisam , Dilip Singh Mairembam , Anupama Hazarika , Prankul Goel , Roli Srivastava , Thiagarajan Sundararaman
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP147201
- DOI 10.9756/BIJIEMS.4421
- Views 102
- Downloads 0
Influence of Demographic Variable on Quality of Work Life: An Empirical Study
The management of those employees is the most important part of every manager's job. Particularly, it is the specialized responsibility of the Human Resource Department of the organisation to manage its employees. In the...
Intergenerational Occupational Mobility of Workers in the Traditional Pottery Industries in Kottayam District, Kerala: A Critical Approach
Pottery is an age old handicraft in India. It is traced back to the earliest times of civilization. The pottery making traits was beginning back to the Neolithic era. During the times of Indus Valley Civilisation this ef...
Defluoridation of Groundwater using Low Cost Adsorbent like Bagasse Dust, Aluminium Treated Bagasse Flyash, Bone Powder and Shell Powder
Excessive fluoride concentrations have been reported in groundwaters of more than 20 developed and developing countries including India where 19 states are facing acute fluorosis problems. Various technologies are being...
A Study on Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a multidisciplinary field where it automates activities but earlier it based on human intelligence. Generally the functions of AI are based on a knowledge base of facts and systems domain...
Affinity towards Entrepreneurship among Undergraduates: A Study of Engineering and Commerce Students in Kolkata
Entrepreneurship has become a global phenomenon today. All countries are well concerned with this issue at hand. India has also been pretty much responsive towards the development of entrepreneurship. The effort towards...