INTRODUCTION The Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS, is the pioneering department in India to have started the Master's Degree in Hospital Administration. It is the oldest institution providing training to the country’s health managers in the science and art of hospital administration and management. The department introduced the specialty of Hospital Administration in the country in the year 1962, and has since evolved into a center of excellence for teaching, training and research in the field of Hospital Administration and Management.   History and Inception In the year 1961, Dr. J. R. McGibony, consultant to the World Health Organisation for the field of Hospital Administration, recommended the introduction of Hospital Administration as a separate specialty like any other broad specialty of medical sciences. With this initiative in 1961-62, a comprehensive programme and syllabus for Post Graduate course in Hospital Administration was drafted. One Post Graduate student, an Indian doctor from the University of New South Wales, Australia was admitted to serve his Administration Residency at AIIMS. The Australian student completed his thesis and MD in Hospital Administration in 1962-63. The course in Hospital Administration was formally approved in 1963-64 and a full fledged Department of Hospital Administration was started in 1966 under the pioneership of Brig (Dr.) Gaind, the then Medical Superintendent, for the first time in India. The present MHA (Masters in Hospital Administration) course was officially started in February 1966 and has since been recognized as a distinct post-graduate discipline by the Medical Council of India.   Contribution to the Institute The department occupies pride of place in the functioning and running of the hospital services at AIIMS. All faculty members of the department are handling independent charges of hospital administration at the Medical Superintendent level in various patient care centers of the institute. The department regularly organizes training programs for all categories of Hospital Staff on various aspects of hospital administration and managerial development. In addition, the department runs a 24 hour Administrative Control Room, a unique concept which functions as an extension of the Medical Superintendents office after office hours.   National and International Contribution   Hospital Management Education The department is actively involved and strongly committed to capacity building and human resources development in hospital administration at national and international stages. The department provides guidelines for developing courses and curricula for starting training courses in the field of hospital administration including post graduate programs to various public and private institutions in the country. Tailor made programs are organized for many institutes and organizations from India and abroad. WHO fellows are imparted short and long term trainings on hospital management in the department. A full fledged biannual Healthcare Executive Management Development Programme is conducted by the department for senior hospital administrators and top level hospital management personnel from India and abroad.   Consultancy Services The department provides countrywide consultancy on diverse areas like Newer Healthcare Facility Planning & Management, Healthcare Registries Planning & Innovation, Healthcare Human Resources Management, Disaster Management, Hospital Equipment Planning and Management and Healthcare Financing & Insurance Product Development. It is also involved in the development of standards for different categories of hospitals along with BIS and acting as a Think-Tank for the preparation of National Healthcare Policy Guidelines. Besides, consultancies are regularly provided to many neighboring countries in the South East Asian region for building capacity and developing newer healthcare facilities in the region.     Masters of Hospital Administration – Two Years Programme The department runs a two year post graduate course in Hospital Administration leading to award of degree of Masters in Hospital Administration (MHA) for both sponsored and open candidates. Resident Administrators man the Control Room round the clock as Duty Officers, and coordinate various hospital activities. They also assist the faculty in hands-on management of various hospital activities and in turn gain valuable experience of hospital management. Ph.D. program in hospital administration is also conducted. Our alumni hold top administrative positions in various organizations of national and international importance. Many of them are also serving as independent consultants in Hospital Administration in the corporate sector. Admission to the MHA program is through a competitive exam conducted twice a year. An advertisement is placed in national dailies in the month of August and January for sessions beginning December and July respectively. For details of admission procedure, form etc please visit www.aiims.edu or www.aiims.ac.in.   Long & Short Term Trainings Various long and short term trainings are provided under following categories: Ph.D. in Hospital Administration Short Term Trainings upto period of Six months Long Term Trainings: 6 months to 2 years Training to Foreign Nationals and WHO fellows Continuing Medical Education Programmes Healthcare Executives Management Development Programme (Hx MDP)   Details of the training, fee, schedule etc can be obtained from the academic section of the institute or from the institute website www.aiims.ac.in or www.aiims.edu.   PEDAGOGY Unique and dynamic blends of experiential and didactic learning methods are utilized to impart, share, promote and preserve knowledge and skills. The concept of Integrated Learning Methodology comprising Lectures, case analysis, simulation exercises, syndicates, group discussions and practical project work are used to develop conceptual, analytical and decision-making skills. Residents are encouraged to participate actively in the operational decision making processes of various activities of the institute. It prepares them for handling independently the real life management of hospitals and healthcare facilities. Resident’s performance is continuously assessed through direct observations and faculty feedback system.   Continuous Quality improvement in training, teaching and research in the field of hospital administration   In the pursuit of excellence in the teaching and training of Hospital Administration, the department has started several initiatives to develop model syllabi, to meet the changing demands and skill set requirements in this field. Efforts are underway to bring quality standards and   As a pioneering step in this direction the department has become the first of its kind in the country to have documented its teaching, training, research and patient care management processes through ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems Certification. Further efforts are underway to provide inspiration and leadership in improving healthcare processes and imparting Hospital Administration Education for the nation as well as the South East Asian Region.   Location and Infrastructure The department is located adjacent to the Medical Superintendent’s office on the ground floor of the Private Ward Block at AIIMS. It houses a Departmental Library, two well equipped and State-of-Art Conference-cum-Boardrooms and provision for Tele-Education and Tele-Linkage. Latest IT facilities are provided to all faculty and residents to facilitate teaching and learning. These facilities are in addition to the central training infrastructure of AIIMS including central Boardrooms, 24 hour Library, Lecture theatres, Central IT and Computer facility and Center for Medical Education and Technology.