RD, RoHFW
Public Health Institutes

Introduction

Regional Coordinating Organizations (RCOs) were established in 6 States in 1958 to coordinate between the Centre and the States for National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP) activities. Another office, named the Regional Health Office (RHO) came into being in 1963 to coordinate and supervise the Family Welfare activities in 11 States. Later on in 1978, when the need was felt for an office of the Government of India in the States to supervise, monitor and coordinate the matters of all Centrally sponsored Health and Family Welfare programmes, the RCOs and RHOs were merged to form 17 Regional Office for Health and Family Welfare (ROHFW).  Further, to supplement the activities of the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), four (4) Health Information Field Units (HIFUs) were established within ROHFWs in 1981 and two more HIFU units were added in 1986, subsequently making a total of 6 HIFUs units.

Further, the Regional Leprosy Training Institute (RLTRI), Raipur was designated as the Regional Directorate of Health & Family Welfare to look after the work of the State of Chhattisgarh in 2005. Furthermore, the work of ROHFW in the State of Assam was assigned to the Deputy Director, Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (RDTL) from 2005 till August 2020. Thereafter, the charge of ROHFW Guwahati has been assigned to Sr. RD, ROHFW Shillong. Additionally, a new ROHFW has been established at Nagpur.

The Sub-units in ROHFWs are as provided in Table 1:

Roles and Functions:

The offices have been established with the primary objective of ensuring proper liaison and coordination between the Centre and State Governments in the context of the implementation of National Health and Family Welfare Programmes such as monitoring and evaluation, review and assessment of data, and providing feedback to the Centre and activities specifically pertaining to National Health Programmes, etc.

ROHFWs are also involved in Family Welfare activities such as checking records and registers in respect of family welfare acceptors and family welfare programmes. Centre-State coordination activities such as liaison and coordination, accompanying of VIPs & other dignitaries and inter-sectoral coordination between different Government departments. ROHFWs are also involved in organizing training for para-medical staff for various National Health Programmes (NHPs).

Technical Activities:

The details of the technical activities undertaken by ROHFWs are given below:

• COVID and Monkeypox Related activities:

  All Sr. RDs/RDs of ROHFWs have been assigned the role of Nodal Officers in their respective States/UTs for assessing and reviewing COVID-19 and Monkeypox situations.

   

  During COVID Pandemic, RDs have been involved extensively in visiting various health facilities to establish Quarantine Centres and COVID hospitals in their States. ROHFW has also been coordinating the visits from the Centre and supporting their States in managing the COVID situation by providing technical support.

  

• Liaison & Coordination

   

  All Regional Directors undertake liaison and coordination activities between the States and National Programme Officers.

 

• Training activities

   

  ROHFWs organize training related to NVBDCP and CBHI. These are need-based training programmes organized on demand from the states. ROHFWs are conducting training in malaria microscopy under NVBDCP and training on ICD-10 and HIS under CBHI.

 

• Research studies undertaken

   

  Research studies are undertaken by the specialized units created in selected ROHFWs. These specialized units are the Malaria Operation Falciparum Research Scheme (MOFRS) which undertakes therapeutic efficacy studies on the directions of the NVBDCP, Regional Evaluation Teams (RETs) undertake evaluation studies on eligible couples on the directions of the H&FW programme, and Health Information Field Units (HIFUs) undertake a research project on HIS on the directions of the CBHI.

 

• Monitoring Peripheral Institutions for Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS)

   

  Regional offices are responsible for the supervision and monitoring of the centrally sponsored schemes and the functioning of the peripheral institutes. However, during 2010-11 in a review meeting of the RDs at Srinagar, it was decided that ROHFWs should also undertake assessment of the IPHS in the peripheral institutes. DGHS issued instructions that each ROHFW should undertake assessment of the IPHS in at least one District Hospital, one CHC, one PHC and one SHC. All the ROHFWs have completed the assessment of IPHS in the given peripheral institutes. ROHFWs are regularly visiting the peripheral institutes for monitoring and supervision.

 

• Review of the National Health Programmes

   

  Traditionally, the ROHFWs are responsible for the review of the NVBDCP and the H&FW programmes from their very inception. Now, the review of all the National Health Programmes being implemented in the states is also being undertaken. ROHFWs are also reviewing the progress in the implementation of the newer initiatives of the MOHFW. RD Offices are regularly involved in the inspection of Medical Colleges/ hospitals for deciding on the suitability of initiating organ/ tissue transplant and subsequent renewal. Additionally, Sr. RDs/RDs of ROHFWs have also been entrusted with the responsibility of holding regular meetings with the respective Health Department of the State Governments to undertake joint reviews of NHPs and other initiatives of the Government. 

 

• Activities of the NVBDCP

   

  An important task undertaken by ROHFWs under NVBDCP is cross-checking blood slides and undertaking therapeutic efficacy studies.  

 

• Regional Evaluation Teams - field verification

   

  Regional Evaluation Teams are the specialized component of the ROHFWs. These units undertake evaluation studies on the genuineness of the clients practising contraceptive methods under the H&FW programme. In addition, they also field verify the work carried out by the Health workers, children for full immunization, and mothers covered under the RCH programme. The teams also conduct work satisfaction surveys by ANM & ASHA with mothers and PRI.

Strengthening of Regional Offices of Health & Family Welfare

The ongoing ambitious proposal for Strengthening the Regional Offices of Health & Family Welfare envisioned for expanding the pan-India presence of ROHFWs has been initiated in coordination with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) so as to ensure the presence of ROHFWs in all States/UTs without incurring additional expenses on infrastructures and other logistics. The project envisages co-locating all newly proposed ROHFWs in the existing/upcoming branches of NCDC, resulting in not only resource sharing but also savings on infrastructure to the exchequer.

Meetings and training activities

Annual Review Meetings of ROHFWs are organized every year. There is also provision for Induction training for new recruits on epidemiology, statistics, International Health Regulations (IHR) and National Health Programmes.