For a nation with super power ambitions, India fares abysmally low in almost all indicators pertaining to health care. Next to marriages, health care expenses are the primary cause for debt in rural India. And thanks to technological innovations, this is also one sector wherein results could be achieved within a short span of time. So if you are a socially conscious individual interested in making a difference double quick, this is the sector to be in.

Know your discipline: Work in the health sector is varied but may be grouped roughly into the following categories: public health, mental health and related issues, administration of hospitals and nursing centres, drug abuse/de-addiction, accidents and trauma, and medical laboratories services. According to Dr. A Dyalchand, Director, Institute of Health Management, Pune, &ldquoUnder the National Rural Health Mission, the Government has adopted a policy to appoint district managers with a management degree or professionals witha Master&rsquos in health science or social work degree.&rdquo

There are both regular and specialised courses that are offered to make a niche in this field (See Table). While it is extremely difficult to list exclusive courses in this domain, one can see that the syllabus is usually a judicious mixture of theoretical and practical assignments. Students gain the much-needed experience, a prerequisite for employment to some organisations, even as they pursue their programme. A lot of emphasis is now being given to courses that are intense, highly specialised and of a shorter duration.
 

Sana Contractor, 26,   Research Officer, Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied themes (CEHAT)   At times it&rsquos a nine-to-five job. Other times it involves being in the field, interviewing people and meeting up with government officials. &ldquoBut it&rsquos a job that fulfils my intellectual, creative and social needs,&rdquo says Sana, who started her career as a dentist but gave up practice to work in the public health sector. Both her parents are doctors and it was a given that she too would become one.   &ldquoAt the age of 17, one doesn&rsquot ponder much over career choices as you are preparing for the boards, chasing deadlines. There&rsquos just no time to reflect,&rdquo she explains. But it was while studying dentistry, that she developed an interest in public health. &ldquoIn medicine we are taught a treatment-approach rather than a preventive approach and I believe in the latter.&rdquo While practising at small community clinics, performing all kinds of dental procedures, she began volunteering at CEHAT, where she was exposed to health issues related to violence. This was a new area of work and she was curious to know how domestic violence or abuse impacted health. &ldquoIt&rsquos almost terrifying that emotional abuse can express itself in more silent ways than a bruise or a broken arm,&rdquo she observes. Often this kind of abuse results in mental disorders. This area of research excited Sana, and so she joined CEHAT full-time as a research associate and later on went on to complete a Master&rsquos in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, USA.   &ldquoHaving a noble intention alone is not good enough to make a contribution in social work you require professional skills, as well.&rdquo But her parents were surprised and sceptical about her decision, as dentistry was considered as more &lsquoprofessional&rsquo than social work. Sana rues this impression that social workers are people who do good for free.   &ldquoBut much has changed in the past 10 years. Today, the social sector is largely professional. It offers lucrative jobs and pay packages that can go up to Rs 70,000, depending on where you work,&rdquo she says. To really make a difference, while you need passion and skills, you also need a reasonable income. &ldquoAfter all, who&rsquos going to pay the rent?&rdquo   Sana advises social work aspirants to apply to the right organisations since the social sector is largely under-regulated, it is important to do a background check before applying.   by Sumita Vaid Dixit

Job prospects: Developments in the health and allied sectors during the last decade have provided enormous opportunities for students to choose a career of their interest in this sector. One can opt for a suitable course to work as doctor, nursing personnel, qualified scientific, technical or therapeutic staff &ndash including clinical psychologist or say a biomedical researcher. One may also think about alternative therapies, like Ayurveda which has its own niche in India. There are allied health professionals, including occupational therapists and radiographers. Learning disabilities is an integral part of the health sector. Here one deals with a variety of conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy and Down&rsquos syndrome or generally speaking, conditions of physical disability, or mental health or behavioural problems that cause impairment or delay in intellectual progress. Professor Anand Goud, a faculty at the Indore School of Social Work says, &ldquoThere is a dearth of skilled personnel to fill in the gap between the doctors and patients in India. For instance a medical psychiatrist-cum-social worker will be equipped to counsel and deal with the patients, emotionally.&rdquo