Patiala, March 17 -- A six-day management programme for 30 senior medical officers (SMOs) from Punjab would begin at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, on Monday. The programme is aimed at developing essential managerial skills to enhance the healthcare delivery across the state.

Notably, SMOs, most of whom happen to play the role of administrative jobs, don't have any formal training in management. According to officials, the programme is tailor-made for the SMOs in collaboration with IIM-Ahmedabad to focus on key aspects, such as hospital administration, decision-making and public health system improvement.

Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh said that doctors were never imparted training for administrative work. ...