NHSRC Team

Dr K Madan Gopal is a dedicated public health professional with over 30 years of experience in health sector reforms and strengthening health systems in India. An MBBS and MD (Preventive and Social Medicine), he has been deeply involved in shaping impactful policies and programs to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, particularly for underserved communities.

Before his role at NITI Aayog, Dr. Gopal played a pivotal role in implementing the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), one of the world’s largest health insurance schemes. His contributions earned him a National Award for Outstanding Achievement. He also led the CSR-driven Employer-Led Model to engage industries and the private sector in addressing health needs, particularly vulnerable populations and HIV/AIDS interventions.

As Senior Consultant (Health) at NITI Aayog, Dr. Gopal contributed significantly to initiatives such as the Aspirational District Program (ADP), including block-level programs, the Urban Health Strategy, and nutritional interventions to combat malnutrition. He played a key role in district hospital rankings, developing state health indices to drive competitive federalism and advancing medical device and senior care policies. His leadership also supported the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) rollout and strengthened India’s COVID-19 response strategies, focusing on preparedness, resilience, and disease surveillance.

Dr Gopal has received multiple recognitions, including a National Award for his exceptional work on RSBY and an award for his contributions to women’s health. His career reflects a deep commitment to evidence-based policymaking, equitable healthcare, and fostering multi-sectoral partnerships.

Currently serving as Advisor - Public Health Administration at NHSRC, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Gopal continues to drive state-level health system strengthening and governance reforms. Known for his humility, collaborative leadership, and strategic insight, he remains a key architect of India’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Public Health Professional with 20 years of experience, ranging from Health Planning, Program Implementation, Health Standards (IPHS, NQAS), Health Infrastructure, Health Laws, Medico-legal protocols, Death reviews (MDSR/CDR/MNM), Information Technology & Software in Health, etc. Has contributed to more than 30 Government of India publications. Member of editorial board in two esteemed & indexed journals. Part of the teams which drafted Clinical Establishment rules, Public Health Bill, CLMC (Human Milk Bank) Bill & Digital Information Security in Healthcare Bill. Has also contributed to MoHFW guidelines on implementation of 15th FC recommendations and PM-ABHIM. Was part of MoHFW review missions (CRM – 12 times) & JRM (once). Has played leadership role as in-charge of the PHA division from January 2013 to March 2015. Area of interest lies in Public Health Laws and Health Governance.

Dr. Smita Shrivastava is a public health professional with almost 20 years of diverse experience in the health sector, encompassing clinical medicine, public health and clinical research domains. She is a MBBS graduate with MPH (executive), MA in Population Studies, PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management qualifications. Dr. Smita has been associated with the National Health Mission in Delhi and at National level for more than a decade. She has played a significant role at grassroot level in program implementation, clinical management, healthcare administration, followed by policy support, capacity building, health planning and supportive supervision. Previously, she has worked in the development sector for a National level STI/HIV prevention program, and in the pharma sector in clinical research (Phase 1 and 3 global clinical trials, Bioavailability and Bio-equivalence studies). Areas of Interest: Urban health, health systems, NCDs, RMNCHA+N, program implementation, capacity building, monitoring, healthcare AI and data analysis.

Dr Swarnika Pal pursued her MBBS from Mysore, Karnataka, and her MD in Community Medicine from PGI, Chandigarh. With nine years of experience, Dr Pal has worked at all levels of the public health care delivery system, providing clinical health services for individual patient care as well as mitigating community-wide health issues. Her forte focuses on maternal health and non-communicable diseases. She has conducted evidence-based research to strengthen practices in maternal health, including intrapartum care, respectful maternity care and family planning services. Her work also includes conducting implementation research on the NP-NCD Programme in a peri-urban community setting. Her versatile experience also includes teaching undergraduate and post-graduate medical students, anchoring workshops, training frontline health workers, and control of outbreaks in slum areas. She aspires to work towards reducing health disparities and expanding healthcare access to resource-constrained settings.

Dr. Harioum holds a BAMS degree from Delhi University and an MBA in Hospital and Health Management from IIHMR University. With over a decade of experience, he has worked in diverse sectors, including Hospitals, Pharmaceuticals, Insurance, the National Health Mission (NHM), Development organizations, and Academic institutions. His involvement with previous organizations has provided him with opportunities to work in areas such as program implementation, Health system strengthening, secondary care, Hospital operations, quality assurance, healthcare infrastructure planning and development, training and capacity building, stakeholder coordination, Health programs monitoring and evaluation, clinical and crisis management, and research.

Dr Priyanka S Shenoy has pursued MBBS from medical college in Mangalore, Karnataka and has completed her MD in Community Medicine from Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. She has also cleared her DNB examination. Dr. Shenoy has diverse experience, working in urban slum areas and rural areas – for maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases and strengthening health care delivery system; has worked on non-communicable diseases especially diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. She has conducted evidence-based research in maternal and child health and liver diseases. She has been actively involved in creating awareness about health issues among students, youths, rural population and urban slums over the years. She has also extensively worked in individual patient care, control of ailments in communities, medical teaching – both undergraduate and postgraduate students, organizing workshops and health camps.

Public Health Professional with more than 9 years of experience in the field of program management, implementation, capacity enhancement, advocacy and strategic interventions. Her background includes extensive work at both Regional and National levels, collaborating closely with stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and Family and Development partners. Proficient in leveraging data analysis and field observations to identify bottlenecks and implement evidence-based solutions. Major contributions: Revision of IPHS 2022 Guidelines, Revised Curriculum for CEmONC/ LSAS / BEmONC, Emergency care services at District Hospital, (SUMAN) Initiative, and Newer initiatives like PMABHIM and 15th FC amongst others.

Daisy A. John is a public health professional with around 5 years of work experience in the field of public health. She has completed her bachelor’s in nursing from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) and completed her Master of Public Health from the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). She has worked for both government and private organizations and has also held positions such as researcher and tutor for the Post-graduate Diploma in Public Health Management Studies at the Indian Institute of Public Health, Bangalore. Her skills include research, and data analysis owing to her previous work experience at the Public Health Foundation of India. She has worked in various domains such as Food systems, Maternal and Child Health, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19. She has also published 9 high-impact papers in both national and international peer-reviewed journals. She is also a member of the World Public Health Nutrition Association and Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her domain of interest includes the nexus of health systems and food systems.

Holds a Bachelor's in Biotechnology and a Master's in Public Health specializing in Environmental and Occupational Health from Manipal University, Karnataka. With over 7 years of experience, including work with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI. Expertise includes Policy and Planning, Human Resources for Health, and Training and Capacity Building.

Dr. Anchal Dhiman is a seasoned public health professional with extensive experience in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCHA+N). She holds a BDS degree and a Master of Public Health, combining clinical knowledge with public health expertise. Dr. Dhiman's career spans over six years, during which she has developed significant skills in project management, policy development, and data analysis. Her experience includes work with prestigious institutions such as PGIMER, Chandigarh. Dr. Dhiman has contributed to research on pneumococcal disease burden, vaccine impact studies, and the implementation of evidence-based family planning services. She is proficient in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, data triangulation, and policy brief development. Her multilingual abilities (English, Hindi, Pahadi) and publications in peer-reviewed journals further enhance her expertise. Currently, Dr. Dhiman serves as a Consultant at the National Health Systems Resource Centre, where she continues to make valuable contributions to maternal and child health initiatives.

Deepali holds a Post Graduate Program in Public Policy from the Takshashila Institution and a Master of Business Administration in Hospital & Health Management from IIHMR University, Jaipur. She is a public health and policy professional with over four years of experience in public health, research, monitoring and evaluation, and digital health with a record of collaborating with various stakeholders to improve health systems and implement effective healthcare policies. Prior to this, she was associated with the National Health Authority under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission where her role involved providing technical support for the implementation and quality of digital health scheme at both national and sub-national levels, as well as conducting research and data analysis to maintain scheme-related databases. She also served as a Zonal Quality Associate at the WISH Foundation in Rajasthan where she ensured timely support in establishing quality improvement processes under NQAS, performed comprehensive assessments, and developed evidence-based technical frameworks to improve the processes, particularly in primary health care settings. She also worked at CARE India in Bihar where she led data collection administration and documented key interventions to contribute to knowledge dissemination and informed decision-making. She also supported in data-driven approach to improve the department's district-level operations.

Dr. Ankur Punia is an experienced public health professional with a wide career in healthcare. Dr. Punia has a Master of Public Health from the prominent Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India, and also holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree. With over 8 years of combined clinical and non-clinical experience, his professional past encompasses a number of high-impact jobs that illustrate his diverse knowledge and dedication to public health. He has worked in a variety of fields, including maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19. His interests include epidemiology, health promotion, and health research.

Dr Ipsa is a public health professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry and a Master’s in Public Health from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur. Her professional career spans over a period of four and a half years: worked as a clinician, as a researcher in a Centre of Excellence- PGIMER, Chandigarh and as a Senior specialist-RMNCHA+N in a development organization. She carries along with herself a ground-level implementation experience of an Aspirational District of Uttar Pradesh. Her multifaceted work experience cuts across fields of Research, Maternal & Child health, Quality improvement initiatives (NQAS, LaQshya), structured Clinical trainings (SBA, NSSK) and Monitoring & Evaluation. Her areas of interest include Maternal & Child Health, Training & Capacity Building and Health system strengthening.

He is a pharmacy graduate and has Master's in Public health from Indian Institute of Public Health Delhi (2016-2018). He has more than 5 years of experience in Public health, majority of which is in Public health research. He has worked under various capacities with renowned organizations such as ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. He has contributed substantially to the research studies namely HPV vaccine Concurrent Evaluation, Cohorts for Zika Epidemiology in India, India's Hypertension Control Initiative, ICMR Pesticide Study and HIV Sentinel Surveillance. He has undertaken several certificate courses, including Outbreak Management Strategy, Maternal, Infant, Young Child and Adolescent Nutrition (MIYCAN), Public Health Leadership, Systematic Review and Meta Analysis etc. His areas of interest are Health systems strengthening, Implementation research, Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence, One Health and Maternal and Child Health.

Mr. Kannan. P holds a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) degree and boasts a comprehensive background in the field of epidemiology, maternal and child health, health promotion, and public health policy development. With three years of professional experience, he has contributed significantly to the Public Health Policy and Planning division of MOHFW as a Junior Consultant. Prior to then, he made significant contributions to UNICEF's activities in Tamil Nadu, giving critical support for Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) and COVID-19 projects in collaboration with the state government. His areas of expertise include developing and implementing effective health programs, using data to inform decisions, and pushing for policies that improve community well-being. He is deeply committed to improving health outcomes through evidence-based solutions and collaborative efforts.

Dr. Syeda Tahseen Kulsum is a Public health professional with over 4 and half years of experience in health systems strengthening, clinical care, and project management. As a Consultant with CDC–Share India, contributed to national health initiatives like the Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHL) and Block Public Health Units (BPHU), helping states achieve quality certifications (NABL, NQAS). Led gap assessments, and capacity-building efforts, and supervised implementation of public health interventions. Previously, she worked as Fellow and E. Consultant with the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), MoHFW supported the drafting of key national health frameworks including the revision of Indian Public Health Standards 2022, National Urban Health Mission and Emergency COVID-19 Response Package (ECRP II) etc. She has experience in liaising with stakeholders, drafting government reports, and conducting field visits to assess health infrastructure and program implementation. She has also been part of 2 Common Review Missions one for Karnataka and the other for Uttar Pradesh. She holds a Post-Graduate degree in Hospital Management from National institute of Health and Family Welfare and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, with strong skills in epidemiology, research, and health data management.

Dr Sukhleen Sandhu is a dedicated Public Health professional and General Dentist with 4+ years of experience in project management, program implementation, and public health research. A postgraduate of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences with a Master’s in Public Health (Health Administration), she has worked and contributed significantly to varied initiatives in the field such as routine immunisation, MR elimination, VPD surveillance, oxygen & essential medicines systems strengthening, capacity building and other public health emergencies across various states with organisations of international repute. Her areas of interest include health systems management, public health epidemiology, qualitative research and health policy & financing.

Bhavna Nahata is a detail oriented and diligent professional with focus on learning, quality, impact and sustainability. She has a background in pharmacy with an MBA in Health and Hospital Management. Bhavna has around seven years of experience of working in the social and development sector with various national and international organizations. Her core competencies include business development, strategic planning, implementation and quality assurance of multi-state projects in the area of public health & nutrition, WASH and rural development.

Dr. Sruthi M is a seasoned Public Health Specialist with a strong background in health surveillance, teaching, and community outreach. Dr. Sruthi holds an MBBS from Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, and an MD in Community Medicine from Seth G S Medical College, Mumbai, along with a PG Diploma in Healthcare Management from Welingkar Institute of Management - Mumbai, blending her medical expertise with significant administrative skills. Most recently, she served at the Airport Health Organization in Trivandrum, where she managed public health operations, including vector control, food safety, and international health monitoring in line with WHO regulations. Her experience as a Senior Resident at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College included training junior staff, supervising outpatient services, and coordinating public health outreach. A published researcher, Dr. Sruthi has contributed studies on infectious diseases and healthcare quality, and her work has received awards at national conferences. Proficient in statistical software like SPSS, Jamovi and R, she is skilled in data analysis, project management, and health education. Dedicated to social service, Dr. Sruthi volunteers in health camps and partners with NGOs supporting underprivileged communities. Her leadership and dedication to public health continue to drive her commitment to improving health outcomes across diverse populations.

Graduate from Delhi University. Has done diploma in Secretarial Practices. 16 years of work experience in Administration and HR, currently working with Public Health Administration Division, NHSRC.