Observations by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Patel, April 2002:

Dr. Dinesh Kumar Patel of Rajkot, Gujarat visited the Institute of Health Systems from 16‑04‑2002 to 25‑04‑2002. Dr. Patel is an Orthopaedician. At the time his visit to the IHS, he had retired from clinical practice and was managing a Finance Company that invests in the stock market. He is a member of the IHS. Dr. Patel happens to be the classmate, in MKCG Medical Collge Berhampur, Odisha, of Dr. Prasanta Mahapatra, who was the Director IHS at the time.

The following is a substantive extract of Dr. Patel's observations about the Institute, from the fax message sent by him, after returning from his visit to the IHS, to Rajkot.

In this short stay I have had quite a bit of exposure to the IHS activities and was able to get insight to the current project titled "The Medium Term Financing Reform Strategy for Health (MTFSH)." Meeting Dr. Peter Berman & his team from Harvard in raegard to this project was a good learning experience.

Functioning of the Institute:

Frankly I am very much impressed by the sincere efforts & missionary spirit put in by yourself and a well nurtured faculty in increasing the quality of research and brinking up a good work culture. I feel confident that this good foundation shall prope this institute to greater heights of achievements.

My Vision:

I wish to share my vision of this institute with you. Having entrenched itself firmly in Andhra Pradesh this institute is now poised to increase its sphere of activity to other states soon. I foresee this institute's activities making substantial contribution in bringing about health policy reforms in India. This institute has the potential to become a name to reckon with, in the international areana.

My Humble Strategy Suggestions:

1. Institute should focus on sales of its teaching/training porgrams in a large scale and thus develop a good profit centre. If necessary, should recruit a person with commercial focus to head this division.
2. Should seek projects in other states very aggressively to gain a foothold in other states as early as possible. For this it should appoint persons with liaisioning capabilities.
3. Should discuss with the board the feasibility of seeking specific project oriented sponsorship from industrial houses and philanthropic organizations. It is not wise to shy away from such funding.

View/download copy of Dr. Patel's complete fax message dated 29-04-2002.

-------------