Bengaluru

Institute Brief

The Indian Institute of Public Health-Bangalore, IIPH-B completes 14 years of operations under a tri-partite MoU with PHFI, The Government of Karnataka and IIPH-Hyderabad. IIPH-B commenced operations 2012 with academic program of PGDPHM for medical Officers of Health & AYUSH dept. & Staff nurses. The Institute undertakes academic, research, training, and technical support for public health.

PHFI - IIPH Bengaluru has been awarded the status as a constituent unit of PHFI Institute of Health Sciences as deemed University (GAZETTE of INDIA notification No.: CG-DL-W-05072025-264390, dated 05-11th July 2025) with Headquarters of Hyderabad with PAN India Jurisdiction.

The Indian Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IIPH Bengaluru) is actually the Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH Bengaluru), a non-profit, interdisciplinary academic and research institution that strengthens health systems in India through education, research, and policy work. It focuses on areas like commercial determinants of health, tribal health, and health policy systems, working to create more equitable and participatory health systems through evidence-based interventions and collaborations.

IIPH works closely with state governments to conduct research relevant to the home state and surrounding regions. They aim to make education and research activities relevant in content and context to all of India, while attaining standards which are qualitatively comparable with the best in the world.

Our programmes are world class in scientific content, delivery and most appropriate to the conditions of developing countries. The curriculum of each course is continuously updated to incorporate the latest advances in public health and to meet the changing needs of the students.

We have highly qualified faculty with diverse experience. Their expertise is being put to good use in research, teaching and the practice of public health.

The academic programmes are a crucial channel of PHFI’s mandate, which is to address the worrying shortage of trained and qualified human resources. Our priority is to build a strong public health system across the length and breadth of India.

Objective

In Karnataka, PHFI aims to support the ongoing efforts of the Government through strengthening public health education, research, policy development and practice. In the past, PHFI has productively undertaken collaborative and productive engagement with key institutions to ensure their active participation in important activities such as the NHM plan preparation and planning Universal Health Coverage (UHC) implementation. It will deem it a duty and a privilege to do so also in Karnataka.

IIPH in Bengaluru provides the state health system and will help strengthen the public health capacity in the state. PHFI will help create the critical mass of professionals needed to influence and impact the health system and will design customized training programmes for health workforce and key stakeholders, many of whom might be active players in the health system e.g. public health managers, strategists, and researchers, contributing their expertise across the public health value chain.

With support and guidance from the Government of Karnataka, IIPH in Bengaluru, Karnataka will operate as an institution of excellence for public health teaching, research and practice. The IIPH will help to strengthen the existing institutional infrastructure (at the State, District and sub-district levels). The long-term aspiration is to build a strong cadre of skilled public health professionals and strengthen institutional linkages with national and international institutions to bring in global best practices and learning to Karnataka.

PHFI has demonstrated its commitment to strengthening public health capacity in the state through its IIPH Bengaluru, which has been providing technical support to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka by developing strategic concepts and tools to address emergent priorities in the state.

Vision

To create a future where technology and evidence-based interventions revolutionize healthcare delivery, ensuring resilience, equity, and improved health outcomes for all populations.

Mission

To lead in public health education and research by promoting technological innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based interventions, with a commitment to improving health equity and creating sustainable, resilient healthcare systems.

Academic And Technical Support Provided By IIPH Bengaluru

PGDPHM: One year Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Management (PGDPHM) course is for Medical Officers and Nurses of the Department of Health and Family Welfare & AYUSH. The Knowledge Commission of India, NITI AYOG of Govt. of India, NHM & Ministry of Health, Govt. of India have identified Public Health strengthening through training, cadre formation as a felt need and priority area in health for action. Further, Karnataka Health Task Force, Gnana Ayog (Knowledge Commission) of Karnataka, Karnataka State Integrated Health Policy of 2017 and several committees set up by the Government of Karnataka have all prescribed and recommended strengthening Public Health skills and cadre formation in Karnataka. As approved by GOI Ministry of Health, the intake of candidates is limited to 40 candidates deputed by Govt. of Karnataka. The course is recommended for Medical Officers of both Modern System and AYUSH as also nursing staff in the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services and AYUSH Department of Karnataka. Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health Management (PGDPHM) course started as in-service training programme with effect from November 2012. A total of 231 candidates have benefitted from the programme. As a part of their learning, the deputed medical officers undertake a short research program under the guidance of a faculty mentor and many research projects have been completed.
Capacity Building Series on Pandemic Preparedness for Health Leaders: The Indian Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IIPH-B) recently conducted an intensive capacity-building series on pandemic preparedness, designed for district and state-level health officers from across Southern India. Participants included public health leaders, epidemiologists, and disaster response coordinators from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Pondicherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Karnataka. The training focused on outbreak response strategies, data-driven surveillance, risk communication, and resource mobilization to enhance regional resilience against future health emergencies. Through interactive simulations, case studies, and expert-led workshops, officers gained hands-on experience in crisis leadership, One Health integration, and adaptive policymaking. This initiative strengthens inter-state collaboration, ensuring a coordinated, agile health security framework for Southern India.
Orientation on Public Health to AYUSH Doctors: Training of AYUSH professionals for strengthening their role in public health service delivery from within the system to ensure community level health care quality, equity and access through pluralism and integration.
Training on Supportive Supervision to nodal officers of Health Department of Karnataka (January, 2015)
Field Epidemiologists Training Programme: A two week’s training programme was conducted in September 2014 for District Surveillance Officers of the Indian Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). District Surveillance Officers from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Kerala states along with District Surveillance Officers of Karnataka participated in this training programme. The objective was to impart skills to handle data, operate surveillance for decision making, respond to limited, localized outbreaks, exchange within the health system, monitor surveillance activities, analyze surveillance data by time, place and person voluntary limitation in scope, need to analyze/ use data at district level, need of a competency-based course, expected benefit, address the need to analyze/ use data in India.
Short Course on Qualitative Research Methods: This four day short course in July was to impart and imbibe participants with a deep theoretical grounding along with hands-on practical application of important methodological concepts using analytical software. The workshop was meant for those who are beginners as well as advanced practitioners in the development sector, especially, in the health and the allied domains. On demand, a second short course was held during January 2015.

Research and technical support / Activities

Birth Cohort Study: The faculty of the institute is implementing the project titled “Maternal Antecedents of Adiposity and Studying the Transgenerational role of Hyperglycemia and Insulin” (MAASTHI) is a cohort study in the public health facilities in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The primary objective of this ongoing study is to investigate the effect of glucose levels in pregnancy on skinfold thickness (adiposity) in infancy as a marker of future obesity and diabetes in offspring. The secondary objective is to assess the association between psychosocial environment of mothers and adverse neonatal outcomes including adiposity. The study aims to recruit 5000 pregnant women and follow them and their offspring for a period of 4 years and this project is funded by Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance.
“Supporting National Urban Health Mission by establishing Center of Excellence at Public Health Foundation of India, Indian Institute of Public Health, Bengaluru” funded by Asian Development Bank.
“Redesigning primary care to reduce cardiovascular mortality: population preferences for hypertension care in India” funded by Harvard University, School of Public Health.
To strengthen regional support in the technical analysis, inferences and dissemination regarding COVID-19 response in SEAR funded by WHO.
“Effect of meal supplementation during antenatal period on the improvement in maternal and birth weight (SYRES)” funded by ICMR.
Established a Centre for Training, Research and Innovation in Tribal Health (CTRITH) funded by Welcome Trust DBT India Alliance.
Explaining the differential severity of COVID-19 between Indians in India and the UK (DiSeCT) funded by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.
Nutritional, psychosocial and environmental determinants of neurodevelopment and child mental health (COINCIDE): an integrated assessment approach using a developmental framework perspective, funded by Welcome Trust DBT India Alliance.
Assessing the Transgenerational Association of Maternal Glucose and childhood Obesity, and Role of Behavioural, and Environmental influencing factors (TAGORE), funded by Welcome Trust DBT India Alliance.
A Cohort Study on the effect of Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Cortisol and Psychological Distress on Infant Development in Bengaluru, Southern India
A two year pilot study to establish feasibility of a large cohort study - Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy and adiposity in Infants was undertaken and implemented in the year 2011 funded by Welcome Trust.
A multicentre study to understand the role of folic acid in neural defects in infants has been completed at Bengaluru at PHFI’s cost without any financial liability to the Govt. of Karnataka.

Apart from the above activities, the campus at Bengaluru has undertaken the following

Study of health seeking behaviour and out of pocket expenditure in Raichur and Mysore districts for Universal Health Coverage project.
Costing of primary care services in districts of Raichur and Mysore as a part of the project Universal Health Coverage.
PHFI is undertaking a project titled mWELLCARE – for developing an app to track and follow up of cases and identification of defaulters for follow-up of NCD cases in the districts of Shivamogga and Tumakuru at its own cost. The apps and other paraphernalia procured for the project will be handed over to the concerned institutions of the department at the conclusion of the study which would continue the learnings from the project and help to continue tracking.
A study for assessing the social, health and economic impact of the use of Any Time Water Kiosks a joint study with Abdul Nazirsaab Institute of Rural Development, Mysore for RDPR Department of Govt. of Karnataka is in the anvil.
A study titled ‘Save Childbirth Checklist’ a study over a period of 3 years for evaluation of WHO’s Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) was undertaken in the state of Rajasthan. The aim of the checklist is to improve the quality of facility based maternal and newborn care and result in reduction of perinatal mortality.
Apart from the above projects, medical officers deputed for PGDPHM course have done short research projects on topics of public health and have been imparted analytical and research skills as part of the PGDPHM course. Till now, 90 research projects have been completed and few of the medical officers have written papers on these subjects which have been published in scientific journals.

Karnataka specific projects to assist the Department of Health.

Development of Standard Management Guidelines for NCDs-Karnataka: This was supported by Karnataka Health Systems Development and Reforms Project (KHSDRP). PHFI, IIPHH-Bengaluru has developed guidelines for prevention and treatment of Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and Carcinoma Cervix. The guidelines were developed for various levels of health professionals including ASHA, ANM, staff nurses and Medical officers.
Human Resource for Health: Policy Framework – Karnataka: PHFI prepared a detailed report on the existing human resources situation in the department of health and family welfare services with recommendations for reforms for Karnataka State Health System Resource Center (KSHSRC). These include efficient management of HR practices, optimum use of skills in the department, recruitment practices, integration of various sources of information and implementation of better Human Resource Management System (HRMS).
Review of Nutrition programs in Karnataka: Conducted state of the art review of existing national and state specific program guidelines for conceptualization, designing, development and review the status of nutrition programmes in Karnataka for Ashoka Innovators for the Public, Bengaluru; an Indian funder.
Workshop for training of nodal officers in the department through KSHSRC. IIPHH-Bengaluru Campus conducted a training for state level nodal officers to strengthen, re-direct the capacity, to orient & reinforce the skills in motivation, communication, supervision, identifying gaps, inspection of programmatic, administrative, financial issues as well as improving the liaison between departments.
Orientation on Public Health to AYUSH Doctors: Public Health training to AYUSH professionals for strengthening their role in public health service delivery from within the system to ensure community level health care quality, equity and access through pluralism and integration. Orientation on Public Health to AYUSH Doctors: Public Health training to AYUSH professionals for strengthening their role in public health service delivery from within the system to ensure community level health care quality, equity and access through pluralism and integration.
National Urban Health Mission Action Report: Provided leadership and technical assistance to develop conceptual plan for the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) for the city of Bengaluru for Karnataka State Health System Resource Center.
A documentary film on Maternal Mortality policy options, opportunities and challenges in Karnataka: Developed a short documentary film on maternal health/mortality, policy options, opportunities and challenges in Karnataka for purposes of situational analysis, best practices, educating the policy makers and articulate policy levels submissions and opportunities.
Gender, Religion and Reproductive Health among Muslims and Hindus in India, Wellcome Trust fellowship: This research sought to understand the role of gender in explaining reproductive health related behaviour among Hindu and Muslim women in Karnataka, India. This qualitative study is expected to guide program planning for improving women’s access to education and nutrition, which will consequently better their health status in the state of Karnataka.
Follow up training for nodal officers for the department of health to strengthen, re-direct the capacity, to orient & reinforce the skills in motivation, communication, supervision, identifying gaps, and inspection of programmatic, administrative, financial issues as well as improving the liaison between departments.
Dr Giridhara R Babu and Dr Suresh Shapeti were the members of a committee that recommended the implementation of Public Health Cadre and departmental reorganization.
In order to address the specialist gap in the country DNB program policy advocacy has been undertaken in different states of the country including Karnataka state. This DNB program has been advocated to begin in district hospitals so that future specialist gap can potentially be reduced in public sector.
In coordination with AYUSH department, support is being provided to engage strategically to fill the public health needs of the Karnataka state in the form of integrative approach especially at primary health care level.

Research

Conducting rigorous research to generate evidence and inform policy.

Our Team

Name	Designation	Email_ID
Dr. Suresh S Shapeti	Special Officer & Director I/c	sureshshapeti@phfi.org
Dr. Debarati Mukherjee	Professor IIPH-Bengaluru & Lead and Incharge of PHFI Centre for Developmental and Lifecourse Research	debarati.mukherjee@phfi.org
Dr. T N Sathyanarayana	Associate Professor	sathya.tn@phfi.org
Dr. Biswamitra Sahu	Associate Professor	biswamitra.sahu@phfi.org
Ms. Deepa R	Research Scientist	deepa.r@phfi.org
Ms. Prafulla	Senior Lecturer	prafulla@phfi.org
Ms. Eunice Joseph Lobo	Senior Research Associate	eunice.lobo@phfi.org
Mr. T S Ramesh	Assistant Manager - Administration & Account	ramesh@phfi.org
Ms. Maithili K	Research Assistant	maithili.k@phfi.org
Mr. Kiran Kumar H N	Research Assistant	kiran.kumar@phfi.org

Publication

Google scholar profile for IIPH Bengaluru.

You can view the Google scholar page for the organisation at the link below.

All new publications emerging from the organisation will have to be updated at regular intervals to get the accurate citation metrics.

Gallery

Prof. Richard Cash, Public Health Expert, Harvard University, Lecture on Natural Disasters in South Asia

Eunice Lobo (Senior Research Associate & PhD Fellow) with PhD advisor – Prof. Onno CP van Schayck at Maastricht University, The Netherlands in June 2024.

Environment day –PGDPHM students and IIPH Staff

Guest Lecture – Prof. R P Pai, Manipal University

Funders

Collaborators

Contact Us

Indian Institute of Public Health-Bangalore, Epidemic hospital compound, Near Swami Vivekananda Road metro station, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560038.

Land line No: 080-2971 0400/402