Chandigarh, March 17— At least 30 senior medical officers (SMOs) from Punjab will attend a six-day management programme at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, on Monday.
The initiative, designed to strengthen managerial skills, seeks to improve healthcare administration across the state.
Officials stated that the programme, developed in collaboration with IIM-Ahmedabad, would focus on hospital administration, decision-making, and enhancing the public health system.
Despite handling key administrative roles, most SMOs lack formal management training, officials said.
“Doctors are skilled in surgeries, but managing hospitals efficiently is a different challenge because they were never trained for it. Our government is now addressing this gap,” Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singhs said.
He added that the state was considering forming an administrative wing within the health department to streamline operations.
A health department official, requesting anonymity, said administrative lapses in hospitals had been a major concern.
“We provide funds, yet doctors struggle to procure medicines. Some are unaware of basic requirements like power backup. These issues stem from a lack of administrative skills, making such training essential,” the official stated.
