One of the goals of the Institute of Health Systems (IHS) is to build local capacity for generation and use of evidence and information for health policy to realise the broader goal of overall all socioeconomic development. The Institute conducts health systems research on applied and operational issues to improve equity and efficiency of the health care sector. IHS offers training programmes to improve managerial skills and health system research capability in India. While seeking to develop itself as a premier school of public health in India, the Institute has chosen a different organisational path to sustain a high level of creativity and operational efficiency. IHS is a civil society institution and has so far been entirely funded out of revenue generated by its faculty and staff through sponsored research programmes, tuition fee collections and other service charges.

Generating the evidence and information base for health policy is necessary to improve a community’s capacity to effectively deal with its health care and related issues. But mere availability of research results is not enough. A community must be able to use evidence and information through its various formal and informal institutions. Usage of evidence and information for policy is predicate on awareness by general public and knowledge among the public health community, of results from health system and related studies. Towards this end, the IHS has been striving to provide opportunity to persons interested in improvement of the Andhra Pradesh health system to share and learn from the insights of top class intellectuals and public health analysts. The Institute arranges public health lectures, whenever there is an opportunity of having the time from reputed health system researchers and health policy analysts. Title of the lecture is identified in consultation with the visiting public health analyst.

The public health lectures are open to any one interested in the subject. Admission is free. The events are publicised through posters and notices sent out to institutions in Hyderabad known to be working on medical and health related issues, Universities and Colleges. The event is usually listed in the engagements column of local dailies. In addition, special invitations are sent out to members of the IHS, public health officials, news media persons, and opinion leaders in the medical and health community.

Duration of the lecture programme is usually two hours, but vary according to specific needs and is usually moderated by an eminent professional. After initial introductions, which last for about 15 minutes, the invited lecturer speaks on the chosen topic for about 45 minutes. The presentation is followed by a questions and answer session, which may take up another 45 minutes. The session closes with the moderator’s comments and vote of thanks to the visiting lecturer.