Vikash Kumar | Northern Michigan University (original) (raw)
Papers by Vikash Kumar
Indian Journal of Social Work Education and Practice, 2023
This review aims to explore factors affecting implementation of integrated health programs and ho... more This review aims to explore factors affecting implementation of integrated health programs and how NCDs and mental health programs were integrated into existing health systems. A search of major electronic databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, and Medline, was conducted to identify relevant peer-reviewed journal articles. The search used specific word categories related to the study, such as health system integration, health system, program, outcome/output, and perception. The findings of the study indicate that leadership in healthcare, available human resources, training, staff workload, availability of drugs and logistics, and availability of clinical guidelines and treatment protocols play an important role in the successful implementation of integrated health programs. The findings also suggest that integrating non-communicable disease (NCD) services with general health systems could help address accessibility and equity issues. Additionally, the review highlights that integrating mental health services into general health services can effectively reduce stigma, address workforce shortages, and detect mental disorders early. However, challenges like overburdened primary care systems and insufficient training for health workers impede successful implementation.
Social Development Issues, 2023
India has the largest number of families living below the poverty threshold, resulting in high ou... more India has the largest number of families living below the poverty threshold, resulting in high out-of-pocket expenditure for healthcare, including essential medicines for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). With the increasing prevalence of NCDs, the role of the Indian government becomes crucial in ensuring that patients have access to essential drugs through public health facilities. This research paper explores the institutional processes of drug procurement in the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Stroke in Bihar, India, using institutional ethnography as its methodological approach. The data for the study was collected over a 10-months period in three districts of Bihar and involved collecting data through participant observation, interviews, and reviews of official documents and program guidelines. The findings highlight the influence of various institutional and regulatory texts that shape the implementation of integrated programs in district hospitals and carry the authority and instructions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Despite their legal entity and autonomous status, the study reveals that the governance, decision-making, and autonomy of health societies involved in the program were restricted through textual practices. The study's contribution to social science and health system literature lies in illustrating the multiple factors that influence drug procurement at the central, state, and local levels.
Homelessness has been one of the issues that remain unresolved in parts of India due to complicat... more Homelessness has been one of the issues that remain unresolved in parts of India due to complicated and interwoven factors. Human rights groups have also found that in India children are sometimes forced into pornography, prostitution and sex slavery. The purpose of the study is to find out the pattern of exploitation and victimization of the beggar population in Patna district. The study is qualitative and exploratory in nature. Purposive sampling was used to conduct this study with 22 beggars including female and male beggars aged between 13 to 55. The study reveals that homeless beggars are victims of organized crimes and face exploitation such as physical torture and economic loss. Female beggars face sexual exploitation and are manipulated into prostitution. Young beggars are manipulated and forced into drug abuse and drug dealing, pick pocketing, stealing and robbery. With no doubt, the illegal activities are being operated by gangs & supported by local police. Homeless beggars are being targeted and continuously exploited by gangs especially young girls & children. State needs to take immediate steps to prevent these vulnerable populations from being victimized being homeless. The study is conducted at specific places where beggars‟ daily activities are centralized with consequence that the findings are potentially very context specific.
Drafts by Vikash Kumar
The disease control program is critical to the agenda of social justice. A generalist approach to... more The disease control program is critical to the agenda of social justice. A generalist approach to the disease control program involves understanding the complexity of disease control program and prevention from various perspectives, including ecological theory. The integration of the disease control program into the existing health care delivery system has been advocated over many decades, with an emphasis on the medical model of disease control. Integration has been widely considered as a means to achieve effective and efficient health systems efficient health system. This approach has been widely adopted in low-middle income countries to integrate vertical programs such as leprosy, malaria, HIV/AIDs and others. However, studies suggest that there is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of health system integration. The available evidence shows that integration of the health system can have a mixed, negative, or no impact on the health system. This growing enthusiasm towards health system integration is primarily based on perceived benefits of integrated approach. This discussion paper draws on the experience of the integration of the National Leprosy Elimination Program in India. It highlights the factor that affected integration of leprosy programs in Bihar and affected the pursuit of social justice for people who have been marginalised in our modern world.
Indian Journal of Social Work Education and Practice, 2023
This review aims to explore factors affecting implementation of integrated health programs and ho... more This review aims to explore factors affecting implementation of integrated health programs and how NCDs and mental health programs were integrated into existing health systems. A search of major electronic databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, and Medline, was conducted to identify relevant peer-reviewed journal articles. The search used specific word categories related to the study, such as health system integration, health system, program, outcome/output, and perception. The findings of the study indicate that leadership in healthcare, available human resources, training, staff workload, availability of drugs and logistics, and availability of clinical guidelines and treatment protocols play an important role in the successful implementation of integrated health programs. The findings also suggest that integrating non-communicable disease (NCD) services with general health systems could help address accessibility and equity issues. Additionally, the review highlights that integrating mental health services into general health services can effectively reduce stigma, address workforce shortages, and detect mental disorders early. However, challenges like overburdened primary care systems and insufficient training for health workers impede successful implementation.
Social Development Issues, 2023
India has the largest number of families living below the poverty threshold, resulting in high ou... more India has the largest number of families living below the poverty threshold, resulting in high out-of-pocket expenditure for healthcare, including essential medicines for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). With the increasing prevalence of NCDs, the role of the Indian government becomes crucial in ensuring that patients have access to essential drugs through public health facilities. This research paper explores the institutional processes of drug procurement in the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Stroke in Bihar, India, using institutional ethnography as its methodological approach. The data for the study was collected over a 10-months period in three districts of Bihar and involved collecting data through participant observation, interviews, and reviews of official documents and program guidelines. The findings highlight the influence of various institutional and regulatory texts that shape the implementation of integrated programs in district hospitals and carry the authority and instructions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Despite their legal entity and autonomous status, the study reveals that the governance, decision-making, and autonomy of health societies involved in the program were restricted through textual practices. The study's contribution to social science and health system literature lies in illustrating the multiple factors that influence drug procurement at the central, state, and local levels.
Homelessness has been one of the issues that remain unresolved in parts of India due to complicat... more Homelessness has been one of the issues that remain unresolved in parts of India due to complicated and interwoven factors. Human rights groups have also found that in India children are sometimes forced into pornography, prostitution and sex slavery. The purpose of the study is to find out the pattern of exploitation and victimization of the beggar population in Patna district. The study is qualitative and exploratory in nature. Purposive sampling was used to conduct this study with 22 beggars including female and male beggars aged between 13 to 55. The study reveals that homeless beggars are victims of organized crimes and face exploitation such as physical torture and economic loss. Female beggars face sexual exploitation and are manipulated into prostitution. Young beggars are manipulated and forced into drug abuse and drug dealing, pick pocketing, stealing and robbery. With no doubt, the illegal activities are being operated by gangs & supported by local police. Homeless beggars are being targeted and continuously exploited by gangs especially young girls & children. State needs to take immediate steps to prevent these vulnerable populations from being victimized being homeless. The study is conducted at specific places where beggars‟ daily activities are centralized with consequence that the findings are potentially very context specific.
The disease control program is critical to the agenda of social justice. A generalist approach to... more The disease control program is critical to the agenda of social justice. A generalist approach to the disease control program involves understanding the complexity of disease control program and prevention from various perspectives, including ecological theory. The integration of the disease control program into the existing health care delivery system has been advocated over many decades, with an emphasis on the medical model of disease control. Integration has been widely considered as a means to achieve effective and efficient health systems efficient health system. This approach has been widely adopted in low-middle income countries to integrate vertical programs such as leprosy, malaria, HIV/AIDs and others. However, studies suggest that there is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of health system integration. The available evidence shows that integration of the health system can have a mixed, negative, or no impact on the health system. This growing enthusiasm towards health system integration is primarily based on perceived benefits of integrated approach. This discussion paper draws on the experience of the integration of the National Leprosy Elimination Program in India. It highlights the factor that affected integration of leprosy programs in Bihar and affected the pursuit of social justice for people who have been marginalised in our modern world.