“To develop and maintain hospital & healthcare planning and designing parameters, quality training, consultancy and research activities in health and hospital system through active involvement of healthcare organizers and providers, in order to attain a leading role in continuously improving the performance of healthcare systems in the country”- this is the mission statement which Academy of Hospital Administration (AHA) abides by. AHA is an autonomous professional organization consisting of highly qualified and experienced experts and faculty in hospital and health systems operations management, public health and multispecialty facilities planning, and architectural designing doyens. It also employs experts in quality management in healthcare delivery systems (NABH, NQAS, and NABL), public health strategists, and so on. AHA has a large panel of academia, experts in bio-medical engineers, health IT professionals, HTA, telemedicine, medical & wellness tourism, bio-medical waste management, lean & six sigma, and other allied fields in health-related domains.

AHA was established in 1987 under Societies Registration Act, 1860 at AIIMS, New Delhi. It later moved to its own campus to AHA House, Sector 62, Noida (UP). AHA is also exempted from IT Act 12-A & 80-G.

The Inception Saga of AHA

In 1984, at Department of Hospital Administration, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, a group of highly dedicated visionaries and health systems academia decided to form an organization. This organization would carry out health system management development, training, conduct post graduate courses, professional consultancy, research, and conduct national and international conferences. The objective was to create an organization which would become a think tank and act as an association of hospital, health systems, and allied disciplines’ professionals. It was also intended that the institution becomes a resource and advisory body to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Central and State Governments on all matters pertaining to Hospital & Health Systems planning, policy making, and operational management. This led to birth of first and the only ‘Academy of Hospital Administration’ in India in 1987.

Enhanced Training for Better Outcomes

AHA has always focused on nurturing the students to the fullest, so that when they graduate, they march ahead and serve the society and the nation with confidence and dedication. The academy has trained more than 450 healthcare professionals through a distance learning program for Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Health Management (PGDHHM) approved by DGHS, Govt. of India.

It has trained more than 4300 healthcare professionals through a distance learning program for Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Health Management (PGDHHM) in collaboration with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) from 2000 to 2004.

The academy has trained more than 500 medical officers through short term Management Development Programs (6 -12 days), of UPHSDP/OHSDP/UAHSDP etc. sponsored by World Bank Projects.

AHA has trained more than 1200 healthcare professionals in Quality Management and Accreditation of Hospitals from public and private sector.

An Astute Personality

The personality responsible for the success of AHA is Dr Shyama Nagarajan, the Executive Director. She is a medical graduate equipped with a dual Masters’ degree in Hospital Administration from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and Public Health from National Board. She has served in leadership positions at prestigious institutes like that of the World Bank, ICRA, Fortis Healthcare, and Ernst and Young. Dr Shyama has over 25 years of multi-faceted experience in both public and private sector including multi-lateral and donor partners. Currently, she serves at SahaManthran Pvt Ltd, a niche healthcare consulting firm as Managing Director, and has over 65 national and international publications in peer-reviewed journals to her credit. She has the credit of pioneering the grading of health services in India, during her stint in India, which served as inputs into development of NABH accreditation process.

Standing Leagues Apart

AHA has gained prominence owing to its dedication and professional approach towards education and empowerment. It is India’s oldest establishment having a large panel of qualified and experienced faculty staff locally available for all types of management training for health and hospital services.

The academy provides opportunity for training with real-life situations in problem solving and decision making through group work which is only possible during its contact programs. It provides a platform for face-to-face interaction with faculty and other participants during two contact programs, which is essential for learning experience.

The QM&AHO Program conducted by AHA was also appreciated and recommended through a letter by Secretary General, Quality Council of India, Govt. of India. It employs wellqualified faculty trainers from AIIMS, NIHFW, Defence, and so on. Moreover, the academy does not believe in short cuts in training activities to ensure “VALUE FOR MONEY” for its participants.

The AHA Team of Professionals

The smooth functioning of AHA rests on the firm shoulders of the dedicated professionals, who are constantly focused of taking the academy to newer heights. Its expert team consists of the following members:

• Ex Professors, Associate Professors & University PG Faculty, Industry Experts– General Management, Behavioural Science, Financial Management, Hospital Management, Bio Statistics, Research Methodology,
• Senior Hospital Operations Management Consultants
• Public Health Planning and Research Consultants
• Medical Colleges, Superspecialty Hospital, Nursing Colleges, CHC & PHC Planning & Designing Consultants
• Hospital Architects & Civil Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering Consultants
• Clinical, Supportive Services planning Consultants – A&E Services, ICU, NICU, CCU, OT, Maternity & Obestretics Services, Dialysis Units, Day Care Units, Cancer Centre, CSSD, Laundry & Linen Services, Dietary & Nutrition Services.
• Hospitals & Health Systems human resource planning experts
• Health System Equipment & Medical Technology Management Planners
• NABH Accreditation Facilitation consultancy experts
• Health System IT
• Quality Assurance in Public Health System (New Standards Issued by Min of Health, GOI) Consultants
• Bio Medical Waste Disposal System Experts
• Disaster Management, Medical Tourism, Telemedicine, Medical Audit Experts

Admirable Infrastructural Facilities

AHA not only provides students with the opportunity to excel in the academic arena, but also offers them with infrastructural facilities which are worth applauding. It has its own campus building in Institutional Area, Sector 62, NOIDA, UP 201301 with the following facilities:

• Modern reception
• Conference hall – fully equipped with a sitting capacity of 125
• Seminar hall (3) – fully equipped with a sitting capacity of 45, 35, and 25
• Modern technical library
• Committee rooms
• President room
• Computer lab
• AC transit hostel accommodation (16 double bedded) for course participants and AHA members
• Seamless wi-fi connection

Supporting Students with Dedication

AHA leaves no stone unturned to provide support to the students and to ensure that they excel in every endeavor. It provides consultancy in NABH across the country as Organizational Consultants of NABH Quality council of India. The academy utilizes its strong sources through social media to enrol its students in various programs.

Overcoming the Pandemic Challenge

The academy abides by every rule and regulation laid down by the government in relation to COVID-19. In view of this, AHA is conducting the classes of the 6 NQAS batch via virtual mode. Concerned authorities provide an online web link to all participants via registered email/WhatsApp to join the program before its commencement.

Achievements and Recognitions

AHA has a proven track record of at least 27 years of high-quality education, training, and professional 03 I MM 2022 consultancy. It is renowned for its dedicated services across central, state, and public sector organizations in hospital and health sector planning, operational management, quality & accreditation, health systems research, policy formulation, and so on.

The Career Landmark

AHA always ensures that the students are offered with the best career opportunities. It conducts national and international conferences and seminars/workshops every year. The academy also conducts fortnightly webinars on healthcare management free for the students, members, and other hospital administrators across the country. It assists the students to upgrade their knowledge through sessions conducted by eminent stalwarts on different social media platforms.

Since most of the AHA members are CEOs and medical superintendents of the hospitals across the country, the academy receives constant updates about vacancies for the students across different positions in different healthcare organizations and hospitals. These positions include hospital manager, floor manager, medical superintendent/deputy medical superintendent, and quality manager.