DATA INNOVATION, PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, AND COMMUNITY ACTION (DIPICA) FOR SURGICAL, OBSTETRIC, AND ANESTHESIA CARE IN INDIA: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM A QUALITATIVE STUDY sidzadey@asarforindia.org

 

DATA INNOVATION, PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, AND COMMUNITY ACTION (DIPICA) FOR SURGICAL, OBSTETRIC, AND ANESTHESIA CARE IN INDIA: PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FROM A QUALITATIVE STUDY

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Dhruv Ghosh dhruvghosh73@gmail.com Christian Medical College India Hub, NIHR Global Health Research Unit On Global Surgery, Ludhiana India

Lovenish Bains lovenishbains@gmail.com Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India Department of Surgery Delhi India

Joao Vissoci joaovissoci@gmail.com Duke University Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine Durham, North Carolina United States

Prateek Shukla prateekshukla.cstu@gmail.com Indian Council of Medical Research Division of Development Research Delhi India

India

Oral or Poster

About a billion Indians lack access to safe and affordable surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia (SOA) care, a gap that has received limited policy prioritization. The study aimed to explore how high-level interest-holders perceive opportunities to strengthen the integration of SOA care in India’s health policies.

The first phase included two structured consultations attended by 22 participants during the Data Innovation, Program Implementation, and Community Action (DIPICA) Meeting in New Delhi in December 2024, involving leading experts from government, civil society, private, research, and clinical backgrounds. Consultations focused on workforce expansion, financing and policy pathways, and data use in decision-making. The second phase included 28 key-informant interviews to further explore implementation barriers and reform opportunities. Standard methods were used for qualitative data collection and thematic analysis.

There was a strong consensus on integrating SOA care into broader health programs rather than creating standalone vertical schemes. Interest-holders emphasized using district-level data, patient narratives, and real-world evidence to influence policymaking and public discourse. Timely access and financial risk protection were cited as priority indicators with cross-sectoral support for upskilling non-specialist rural SOA providers. Preliminary analysis of interviews highlighted the importance of a) competency-based systems for SAO workforce development, b) secondary care strengthening, and c) embedding surgical indicators into health information and financing systems.

This is the first multistage qualitative study engaging high-level interest-holders on surgical care for India. The DIPICA approach offers a replicable model for Global South countries for inclusive and data-driven policy engagement.