IGNOU to Offer Healthcare Courses, Signs MoU with Health Ministry

Ministry of Health (GOI) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance and scale-up short-term courses in healthcare. The motive is to produce a workforce of around 14 lakh in the healthcare sector by 2025.

On June 25, 2018, the MoU was signed in the presence of Union HRD Minister – Mr. Prakash Javadekar and Health Minister – Mr. JP Nadda. Union Minister of Skill Development – Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan was also present on the occasion.

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Mr. JP Nadda indicated that the central government headed by Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, is taking steps to introduce skill development courses at various levels. As per the MoU signed between IGNOU and Health Ministry, 10 courses, specifically designed for the healthcare sector will be offered to candidates willing to take up the same.

Explaining further, Mr. JP Nadda pointed out that the government has introduced a universal screening of common non-communicable diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy, common cancers, hypertension and diabetics. There is a need for a trained workforce for this purpose and the health ministry is taking steps to impart necessary skills with the help of IGNOU, he stated.

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The move will raise the demand for skilled healthcare professionals and workers in future. The ministry will not compromise on the quality of skill-based courses in the healthcare sector. The ministry and IGNOU will take steps for adding new courses from time to time.

Union Health Ministry will provide financial assistance to IGNOU for establishing the structure and initiating the short-term courses in the healthcare sector. IGNOU will initiate the courses in a phased manner across the country.