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Ph.D PROGRAMME
Introduction
Health Services Academy was established in 1988 as a department of the Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan, and provided short courses and training for public health professionals. Since its humble beginnings as a training institute, the Academy has grown steadily and has established itself as the premier institute of public health in Pakistan, looking to provide more academic programmes in the near future, as well as providing an environment that focuses on excellence in academics, research, and policy-making. With assistance from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), HSA began to offer a Master's in Public Health (MPH) degree in 1995, and the first batch of students graduated in 1996. In addition to GTZ, the Academy has closely collaborated with WHO, the Gates Foundation, USAID, DFID, UNFPA, Population Council and Save the Children Fund (SCF)-USA, in many forms ranging from technical inputs, student stipends, research funds, and workshops to equipment and library books.
The Academy
Since all leading academic and research organizations require autonomous status in order to create an environment of academic excellence, the Ministry of Health promulgated an ordinance entitle Health Services Academy Ordinance, 2002 , put into place in November, 2002. Following the implementation of this ordinance from July 1, 2003, the Board of Governors has been supervising the overall affairs of the Academy.
The faculty of the Academy comprises qualified experts in public health disciplines. They are a highly dedicated group, who have struggled hard and made possible for the Academy to be recognized as an institute of repute. The training programmes designed and given at the Academy are unique, in that most of the trainings are structured through problem-based learning.
Our alumni are engaged in a wide range of exciting endeavours across Pakistan in both the public and private sector. The Academy remains the most applied to school of public health in Pakistan, and is established and well on its way to achieving its institutional objectives.
Background: The PhD Program’s need in the country
At the global level, there is a strong wave of advocacy for practicing evidence based medicine and in that pursuit the academia is striving to produce high level research to generate evidence for improving the population health. For generating a credible body of knowledge and scientific evidence in public health, there is an increasing demand of experts in Public health discipline in the region; especially in the recent context of new infections, pandemics, epidemics, demographic transitions, upsurge of old infections such as tuberculosis and the never ending polio. Moreover, the natural disasters such as earthquake and floods in Pakistan signaled a huge demand for trained and skilled public health workers to manage the large humanitarian programmes by the international organizations. The appalling state of maternal and child health indicators and the pace of the country en route to achieve millennium development goals compel to produce a force of public health professionals, researchers and academicians to face the challenges of the 21st century. Ironically, in spite of the poor situation of public health and the transforming health systems within the country and the region, none of the universities in Pakistan offer the doctorate in Public Health.
Currently, there is hardly any established programme for doing doctoral studies in public health in Pakistan. Nonetheless, there is a strong perceived demand from the public health graduates and professionals within the country for such a programme, mainly because of the escalating cost of higher studies abroad. So far a variety of masters programmes in public health within the country, region and internationally have been serving the needs and quest of the public health professionals to acquire managerial and decision making positions in the health system. Health Services Academy has been one of the eminent and leading institutions in the country providing quality education in public health under the auspices of Federal Ministry of Health, Pakistan Medical & Dental Council and the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. Its standards of education and student led research have been recognized nationally as well as internationally. HSA has strong public health faculty in a variety of Departments and entities that can support the launching of a doctoral programme in public health.
The doctoral level of training imparted in public health will develop a critical mass of experts who will be able to solve practical problems and conduct quality research for finding solutions for common public health problems, reorienting the health systems and bringing policy level changes in the health sector of the country and the region.
Program Goal & Objectives
The main goal of this PhD program is to develop superior level of skilled human resource to develop scientific basis for disease prevention and control, health promotion and well- being of populations, demonstrating an excellence in research, service and academic leadership.
The objectives of the PhD in Public health programme will be to
- develop human resource with research skills and knowledge in public health in the country and region;
- produce quality and credible evidence in public health research;
- nurture leadership for academic, research and service sectors of public health;
- groom critical mass of public health professionals to take up decision making positions in government and non government sectors to re-orient the health system of the country
The Program Structure
Program design, organization and pedagogy
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The PhD program will require Course work and Research work leading to submission and defense of thesis and if successful the award of PhD degree.
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Courses (mandatory and electives) will be based on advanced levels in the selected topic and will provide an in-depth student-faculty interaction.
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Learning resources will include libraries (HSA, HEC etc), computer lab, and learning resource centres of QAU. Furthermore, field based work or placements could be based on pilot studies to be conducted during the first two years of program to ultimately develop a formal thesis protocol/synopsis.
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The research work and award of degree will be supervised by a Principal Thesis Supervisor (must have demonstrated research capability through publications, especially being principal author of at least five research papers published in peer reviewed journals) and Co-Supervisors from related areas of expertise. Upon admission to program a Supervisor will be assigned to the enrolled student who will help the student to select the course curriculum and committee members during the year one of admission. The HSA-PhD committee will oversee the proper implementation of the program and monitor the progress in postgraduate courses, the research project and preparation of thesis.
Admission to MPhil/PhD
Qualification
- MPhil/MS in any Public health discipline from a PMDC/HEC recognized university.
- College or a university teacher or staff of a research organization holding MA/MSc with proven research ability demonstrated (preferably at least 2 peer reviewed research publications in HEC recognized/Medline Indexed journals) may also be considered for admission to PhD
Admission criteria and procedures
- Selection will be based on Qualification/academic record, Entry test, and Interviews. The assigned weightings would be: Test 40%; Interviews 10%; and Previous academic record 50%*.
- PhD committee at HSA after recommending will send the final list to QAU for final approval of admissions to PhD.
Program execution- credits, duration*
- Program will be conducted as per HEC/QAU rules & regulations.
- For PhD, at least 18 credit hours of course work followed by a comprehensive examination and open defense of Dissertation would be essential for the award of Degree.
- Supervisor selection criteria will be as per HEC/QAU rules & regulations.
*Higher Education Commission Minimum Criteria for MPhil/PhD
PhD level courses
Core courses
- Advanced Health Systems Research (4 credits)
- Public Health Ethics (3 credits)
- Public Health Leadership and Systems Thinking (3 credits)
Elective Courses
- Performance and Quality Management in Hospitals (3 credits)
- Health Sector reforms (4 credits)
- Applied Econometrics (3 credits)
- Comparative Health Systems and Policy Analysis (2 credits)
- Strategic planning in health sector of developing countries (4 credits)
- Applications in Monitoring & Evaluation (3 credits)
- Applied Nutrition in Public Health (2 credits)
- Advanced Epidemiology (4 credits)
- International Health (4 credits)
Transfer of credits will be permissible from reputable national/international universities at the discretion of PhD committee of HSA, in the light of existing HEC/QAU rules and regulations.
Grades & Promotion
Based on comprehensive exam and seminar on research topic as per QAU rules and regulations.
Degree assessment and evaluation
- The PhD degree will be awarded by Quaid-e-Azam University fulfilling the following criteria:
- Completion of the course work;
- Evaluation the doctoral thesis by 3 eminent foreign examiners from scientifically advanced countries, approved by QAU and HEC.
- Viva voce examination by 2 national experts, approved by QAU and HEC.
- One research paper accepted/published in HEC recognized/Medline Indexed journal.
Degree recognition
PhD Public Health programme is recognized by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council.
Fee Structure
Tuition fee will as per HSA current annual fee structure. Besides dues of Quaid-e-Azam University will be paid according to the rules of the university. PhD candidates will be encouraged to search for their Research funding, though HSA may also identify potential resources or offer fellowships on merit.
Application
Applications should be sent to HSA on the prescribed application forms downloadable from the website www.hsa.edu.pk or obtained from the Registrar’s office at HSA, Chak Shahzad campus, Islamabad.
Programme Director
Dr Babar Tasneem Shaikh, MBBS, MBA, MPH, PhD, FRCP Edin
Associate Professor, Health Systems & Policy Department
Health Services Academy
Islamabad.