Courses & Admission

Master of Public Health (MPH) Programme

The Master in Public Health (MPH) offered by the KIPH is a twenty four months postgraduate degree programme. It is designed to prepare students to address the broad vision of Public Health which is defined as:
Enhancing Health in Human Population(s) through organized community effort, utilizing Education, Research and Community Services.

Objective of MPH Programme

1. Solve health-related problems within the financial, socio-cultural, environmental and political framework of Pakistan and its surrounding region.
2. Design, conduct, analyse and interpret the results of relevant studies, projects and programmes.
3. Initiate, plan, manage, monitor and evaluate interventions in the field of public health.
4. Communicate public health messages to diverse audience effectively.
5. Advocate sound public health policies and practices.

MPH (Degree) Programme Duration and Credits

The MPH degree programme will be of twenty four (24) months duration, comprising four semesters. The first three semesters will be dedicated to course work, while in the fourth semester the students will complete their research dissertation supervised by one of the faculty members. During the first three semesters, students will be expected to attend all classes at the KIPH.

The total programme consists of 60 credits. According to PMCD Rules "3" Credit Hours be Completed for Each Major Subject. 6 credit hours will be dedicated to Research/Dissertation writing during final semester.

English will be the medium of instruction and examinations.

Semester-wise distribution

Semester-1

Credit Hours 18

 

Course

Credit Hours

1

Basic Epidemiology

3

2

Introduction to Public Health/Primary Health Care and its applications

1

3

Basic Biostatistics and Computer Skills

3+1=4

4

Communicable and non-communicable disease control

3

5

Child Health and Preventive Paediatrics/Demography3

3

6

Community Nutrition / Social & Behavioral Sciences

3+1=4

Semester-2

Credit Hours 18

1

Applied Epidemiology

3

2

Environmental Health/Occupational Health/ Disaster Management

3

3

Health System Analysis/Health Policy

3

4

Applied Biostatistics/Computer Skills

3

5

Health Education & Promotion

3

6

Field Visits + Log Book

3

Semester-3

Credit Hours 18

1

Health Planning

3

2

Administration & Management

3

3

Communication Skills

3

4

Reproductive Health/MCH

3

5

Research methodology, report writing &Health System Research

3

6

Health Management & Information System

3

Semester-4

 

1

Dissertation Writing

 

I. Two hours a week with supervisor, total of 48 hours=3 credit hours in six months

 

II. Field work-Data Collection (three hours a day for two days in a week)=3 Credit hours

Objectives for Semester - 1

Basic Epidemiology (Credit Hours-3)
The objective is to introduce the subject and its basic principles. The student will be to understand principles of screening, measures of disease frequency and study designs and interpretation of data in a scientific manner.

Introduction to Public Health/Primary Health Care & its applications (Credit Hours-1)
This aim is to enable the students to use this information in the evaluation of current public health issues, and analyze a public health problem and evaluate interventions and policy alternatives using the problem-solving methodology. The students would also know about different methods of health education and promotion and components of PHC in Pakistan.

Basic Biostatistics/Computer skills (Credit Hours-4)
It will cover the basic statistical methods to enable the students to use them in such disciplines as Epidemiology, medical demography, health planning and management and other areas of public health importance.

Child Health and Preventive Paediatrics/Demography (Credit Hours-3)
This course will improve and strengthen the knowledge and skills of students in the field of child health including social problems. The students will understand the basic concepts and principles of essential programme areas of child health, the role of governmental, private and international health agencies, research methods, policy formulation and programme evaluation in child health

Communicable and Non-communicable Disease Control (Credit Hours-3)

The aim of this course is to familiarize the students with the epidemiology of commonly occurring diseases in developing countries and their impact in endemic areas. It will mainly cover epidemiology of infectious diseases, some common non-communicable diseases, investigation of outbreaks, medical entomology, efficacy of vaccines, diagnostic laboratory techniques and control measures for
selected communicable diseases.

Community Nutrition & Behavioural and social Sciences (Credit Hours-4)
This will familiarize the students with the fundamentals of nutrition. The assessment of nutritional status, effects on growth and common nutrition problems will be discussed in greater detail. More over they will get an opportunity learn about the nutritional care of the mother, infant and young children.

The main objective is to focus on psychological impacts of social, cultural, ecological, political and economic factors and their mutual interaction that influences the occurrence of disease and its management at individual and community level.

Objectives for Semester - 2

Applied Epidemiology (Credit Hours-3)

The aim is to consolidate the knowledge and skills which the students have acquired in basic epidemiology, biostatistics, and computer applications in public health course and application of epidemiological methods in the field.

Environmental Health/Occupational Health/Disaster control (Credit Hours-3)

The aim is to learn about concepts, principles, and applications of the main natural and social science disciplines that form the basis of environmental health and describes how these disciplines and their practitioners interact in the environmental health paradigm. Other issues that will be covered include occupational epidemiology, industrial hygiene and the mechanism for delivery of occupational health services as well as disaster control and management.

Applied Biostatistics and computer skills (Credit Hours-3)

The aim is to emphasize on development of practical skills in Biostatistics rather than on its mathematical basis. The student would thus acquire the ability to make appropriate tabulations and graphic displays of data, select and conduct appropriate methods of statistical inference and interpret the results of analyses through use of computers.

Health Education, Promotion & its applications (Credit Hours-3)

This is an important intervention to change behaviours and attitudes of people to deal with largely preventable health problems. The objective is to enable the students to input their efforts in the form of proper planning, implementation and evaluation of Health Promotion programmes and projects. It will reorient the students to turn them into health promotion specialists and communicators.

Health System Analysis (Credit Hours-3)

The objective is to make the students familiar with the methods used to assess the health care delivery system in particular and use of computer to input and analyze the data. They will also become familiar with methods used to identify health problems and health needs of communities.

Field Visits (Credit Hours-3)

The aim is to take the students to various places of public health importance so that they will know about their existing facilities; problems faced by the working personnels and give their recommendation with public health point of view.

Objectives for Semester - 3

Health Policy (Credit Hours-3)

The overall aim is to provide the students a knowledge, how to analyze, develop and improve health policies. It will also give concepts of Primary Health Care, its components, policies and strategies. Emphasis will be given on the tools and techniques of operational planning, whereas strategic planning is dealt with in the elective course on health policy.

Hospital Administration & Management (Credit Hours-3)

The aim is to enhance the skills of students in hospital management to improve the quality of services being provided in hospitals. They will know about the essential components of a hospital system, the role of hospitals in relation to a primary health care system and the fundamental principles of management of hospitals with respect to financial, physical and personnel resource management.

Communication Skills/Counseling (Credit Hours-3)

In this course the students will be given training to develop how to communicate at different
forums.

Reproductive Health/MCH (Credit Hours-3)

The goal is develop skills, knowledge and principles to design and manage effective community-based reproductive health programmes at the national, provincial and district levels.

Research Methodology, report writing & HSR (Credit Hours-3)

The students will develop a research proposal, do a literature review and provide the essential background, make statements for objectives, carry out data collection, apply statistical methods and computer skills to conduct data analysis, and finally, present their findings and research projects in the final semester.

Health System Management & Information System (Credit Hours-3)

It will focus on issues such as health management information, quality assurance, and financial management, maintenance and repair, and personnel management.

Objectives for Semester-4

Final Dissertation writing and presentation (Credit Hours-06)

During this period the student will finalize research project of her/his own choice in an area of public health in close collaboration with a faculty advisor, and formally present their findings in the form of a dissertation.

Method of Evaluation

The students will be evaluated during each course on the basis of:
1. Internal assessment which is a mix of the class tests, attendance, assignments, class participation, interactive discussions, presentations and MID TERM TESTS depending on the course outline (Internal assessment);

2. Summative assessment based on the end of semester examination papers. Summative assessments comprised of theory papers will be held at the end of first three semesters. At the end of Final semester, the students will be examined in the Dissertation work.

The Dissertation work will be assessed through a viva voce examination on the basis of a structured format covering the quality of the research work performed in the field, data generation, analysis and presentation of results, discussion and conclusions presented in written form.

Fifty percent marks shall be reserved for the internal assessment and fifty percent for the semester tests in first three semesters. In the final semester, 400 marks are reserved for dissertation while 100 marks are allocated for the field visits.
The distribution of marks for internal assessment will be as follows:

a. Assignments, class participation, interactive discussions, attendance etc 20%
b. Class tests and presentations 30%
c. Mid-term tests 50%

Candidates obtaining less than 50% in any of the examinations will be deemed to have failed in that paper/semester of the MPH. However, a student accumulating more than two failures at any stage shall cease to be a student of the University.

The distribution of marks for each examination is as follows:

Semester I (Credit hours 18)

Papers

Subject/Course

Marks

 

 

Paper

Internal Assessment

Total Marks

Passing Marks

5

  • Basic Epidemiology+ Introduction to
    Public Health, PHC and its applications.
  • Basic Biostatistics+ Computer Skills.
  • Child health and community paediatrics/Demography.
  • Community Nutrition+Social and
    Behavioural Sciences in Public Health.
  • Communicable and non communicable
    disease control.

500

500

1000

500

 

Total Marks (Semester I)

500

500

1000

500

Semester II (Credit hours 18)

Papers

Subject/Course

Marks

 

 

Paper

Internal  Assessment

Total Marks

Passing Marks

5

  • Applied Epidemiology
  • Applied Biostatistics & Computer skills
  • Environmental/Occupational
  • Health/Disaster Management
  • Health Education and Promotion
  • Health Management and Information System
  • Field Visits + Log Book

500

500

1000

 

 

 

 

100

500

 

Total Marks (Semester II)

500

500

1100

500

Semester III (Credit hours 18)

Papers

Subject/Course

Marks

 

 

Paper

Internal  Assessment

Total Marks

Passing
Marks

6

  • Health policy and planning
  • Hospital administration and management.
  • Reproductive health/MCH
  • Research methodology, report writing& Health System Research
  • Communication skills and counseling
  • Health System Analysis

600

600

1200

600

 

Total Marks (Semester III)

600

600

1200

600

Semester IV (Credit hours 06)

Paper

Subject/Course

Marks

 

 

Script

Viva

Total Marks

Passing Marks

 

Dissertation writing

200

200

400

200

Final Evaluation

 

Semester I
Papers

Semester II
Papers

Semester III
Papers

Internal Assessment (Semester
I + II + III)

Research
Dissertation/
Viva Voce

Total Marks

Passing Marks

Total
Marks

5000

600

600

1600

400

3700

2220

Candidates passing all the semester examinations shall be declared to have passed the MPH programme and shall be awarded the Degree.

The final evaluation of the students will be as per the existing HEC/University Regulations. The minimum passing marks in each of the subjects will be 50%; however the overall cumulative minimum marks required for passing the MPH programme will be 60%.

  • Grade

    Marks

    Point

    85% and above

    A+

    4

    80-84

    A

    3.7

    75-79

    B+

    3.3

    70-74

    B

    3

    65-69

    BC+

    2.7

    61-64

    C

    2.3

    55-60

    D

    2

    50-54

    F

    1

    Less than 50e

    A+

    0


Admission Criteria and Procedure

The Kabir Institute of Public Health will abide by strict merit-based criteria to select students for the MPH programme.
The candidate should possess one of the following qualifications or an equivalent degree from a recognized university or accrediting body.

(a) MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery)
(b) BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)
(c) B.Pharmacy (Bachelor's in Pharmacy) or M.Pharmacy (Master's in Pharmacy)
(d) BSc Nursing (Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing)
(e) Medical technologists having four years education after F.Sc
(f) DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)
(g) Master's Degree in a relevant subject such as Anthropology, Business Administration, Human
Nutrition, Microbiology, Physiology, Psychology, Sociology and Zoology.

Experience:

The candidate should preferably have completed their one year of full-time House Job from a
recognized institution (in the case of doctors).

Application Procedures:

Applications must be made on the prescribed original application form.
A non-refundable application fee of Rs. 500/– will have to be paid. Payment must be made via bank
draft or pay order.

Completed applications should enclose the following:

Attested photocopy of Matriculation certificate
· Attested photocopy of Intermediate certificate
· Final degree certificate, along with transcripts
· Attested photocopy of identity card
· 3 passport-sized photographs
· Professional resume (preferably one page)
· Attested photocopies of experience certificate(s)
· Permission from the parent department in case government/semi-government service
Completed applications must reach the Registrar Gandhara University by the closing date,
which is January 29 2011 Incomplete applications and applications received after the closing
date will not be entertained. In-service candidates will have to obtain NOC from their parent
departments.

Admissions Procedures:

Screening Test
Pakistani applicants who fulfill the eligibility criteria will be required to take a screening examination.
This examination tests basic public health knowledge, basic English and mathematical skills, and
logical thinking.
Following the screening examination, successful applicants will be short-listed and called for
interview.

Final Selection

Criteria

Weightage

Previous academic record score*

10%

Previous public health experience

10%

score, scored as follows out of the total:

5%

• 1-3 years

10%

• More than 3 years

50%

Screening examination score

30%

Interview score

100%