RGUHS to team up with NITI Aayog on health economics and caregiver training

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) will partner with NITI Aayog to work on health policy formulation and health economics, Vice‑Chancellor Bhagavan B.C. said. He said health economics is key to a sustainable system because it deals with costs, resource use, affordability, access and the economic effects of interventions. Through the tie‑up RGUHS will offer its research and academic strengths to help create evidence‑based policies and boost India's health system. The university will also roll out specialised training programmes for caregivers to improve patient‑care quality. NITI Aayog member R. Balasubramaniam warned that India’s ageing population makes elder care a pressing problem. He noted a large gap between the needs of senior citizens, existing health services and the supply of trained caregivers. He said the country is not yet ready to meet the health and caregiving demands of its older citizens. The collaboration aims to close that gap by combining policy expertise with hands‑on caregiver training.

Context

Health economics blends medical and financial analysis to decide how limited resources can be used best. Elder‑care shortages are common in countries where the proportion of older adults is rising, making training and policy focus essential.