Introduction

Pakistan is currently facing many healthcare challenges. One of the sustainable developmental goals is achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) globally, which all nations have pledged to target in 2019. The UHC goals require capable multidisciplinary teams to work together at all levels of health care.

The availability of effective primary care services is associated with better health outcomes.  Developing community and primary care is one of the most urgent health care needs of a developing country like Pakistan, with limited resources and a minute budget allotted to the health sector. Preventing disease, promoting well-being and provision of basic healthcare services through a well-netted network of healthcare professionals requires vision and experience. Indus Hospital and Health Network is the only healthcare organization in Pakistan with an established model of primary care, with a multidisciplinary team comprising clinicians (family medicine specialists), allied health, public and community health experts.

Integrated primary care services need a skillful and competent team of healthcare professionals who are able to work within their own expertise while facilitating and enabling other allied healthcare professionals to enhance the overall quality of service. In this regard, the IHHN College of Family Medicine and Public Health provides a platform; that brings primary care practitioners together for promoting well-being at the community level and providing preventive, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative health care while being able to define the target population, tracking their health indices, and planning and evaluating programs to improve health outcomes within that population.

Through a Bachelor in Public Health (BSPH), IHHN aims to develop skilled workers in public health, who are able to work in a multidisciplinary team in the public and private sector to enhance the quality of community, public and/or primary healthcare programs.

Program Objectives

A Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health (BSPH) is an undergraduate degree that prepares you to enter the public health workforce and take on various jobs under the public health umbrella. The focus is on disease prevention, health promotion, and protection of the community through education, as a policy maker, or as an advocate.

This program aims to:

• Produce competent, committed and skilled public health professionals.
• Provide the foundation for choosing a relevant Track in Public Health in the future.
• Prepare skilled workforce in public health auxiliary and support services
• Prepare leadership in public health.
• Participate directly in efforts to improve the health of the community using community-based approaches.
• Conduct basic and applied research relevant to the description, risk factors and interventions for the resolution of health problems in the human populations.

Scope of Work

Public health is a rapidly changing and expanding field that offers diverse and rewarding career options. Public health professionals can help to promote and protect community-wide health and wellness by earning a Bachelor’s in Public Health and launching a career in public health. At the end of the program, the graduate is expected to:

• Detect, prevent and manage common public health problems in Pakistan.
• Acquire basic computer skills.
• Supervise, monitor and manage public health issues.
• Be an effective communicator.
• Practice and promote professional ethics.
• Conduct basic research and prepare reports.
• Analyze health system problems.
• Develop critical thinking and creativity.
• Create a cultural context in which public health professionals work.
• Involve community dynamics and networking.
• Prepare for health advocacy, teamwork and leadership and professionalism.

Degree Awarding Authority

Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) affiliation in 2022