Development of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Standard Treatment Workflows for Skin Diseases: A Step Toward Universal Health Coverage

Ananta Khurana; Ashoo Grover; Deepika Pandhi; Binod Khaitan; Renu George; Dipankar De; Rahul Mahajan; Vishal Gupta; Saumya Srivastava; Jerin Jose Cherian; Rupinder Singh Dhaliwal; Dhiraj Kumar; Neeraj Kumar; Anjali Bajaj; Mohan Kant; Lokesh K Sharma; Ravinder Singh; Balram Bhargava; Rajiv Bahl

doi:10.4103/idoj.idoj_741_23

Development of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Standard Treatment Workflows for Skin Diseases: A Step Toward Universal Health Coverage

Indian Dermatol Online J. 2024 Jul 15;15(5):794-800. doi: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_741_23. eCollection 2024 Sep-Oct.

Authors

Ananta Khurana¹, Ashoo Grover², Deepika Pandhi³, Binod Khaitan⁴, Renu George⁵, Dipankar De⁶, Rahul Mahajan⁶, Vishal Gupta⁴, Saumya Srivastava⁷, Jerin Jose Cherian⁸, Rupinder Singh Dhaliwal⁹, Dhiraj Kumar¹⁰, Neeraj Kumar¹¹, Anjali Bajaj¹², Mohan Kant¹³, Lokesh K Sharma¹⁴, Ravinder Singh⁸, Balram Bhargava¹⁵, Rajiv Bahl¹⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology STDs and Leprosy, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
² Scientist "F," Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, India.
³ Department of Dermatology and STD, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, New Delhi, India.
⁴ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
⁶ Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
⁷ Project Scientist C, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, India.
⁸ Scientist D, ICMR, New Delhi, India.
⁹ Scientist G, ICMR, New Delhi, India.
¹⁰ Project Consultant (Graphic Design), ICMR, New Delhi, India.
¹¹ Technical Officer A, ICMR, New Delhi, India.
¹² Medical Officer, Himachal Pradesh Government, India.
¹³ Technician C, ICMR, New Delhi, India.
¹⁴ Scientist-E, ICMR, New Delhi, India.
¹⁵ Ex-Secretary (Department of Health Research) Govt. of India and Ex-Director General, ICMR, New Delhi, India.
¹⁶ Secretary to Government of India, Department of Health Research, and Director General, ICMR New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Background: Skin conditions form a major bulk of diseases in the community. With a disproportionately low number of dermatologists in the country, and a greatly unequal distribution between urban versus rural areas, ineffective treatment and mismanagement of skin conditions are, however, commonplace.

Objective: To develop standard treatment workflows (STWs) for certain skin diseases for use by clinicians at primary, secondary, and tertiary care centers.

Methodology: Seven members, from various academic institutes across the country, were selected for formulation of the STWs. They were provided logistic and technical support by the ICMR, Department of Health Research (DHR), and WHO India office. Multiple rounds of online and physical discussions were performed to identify topics that would be most useful in the management of skin diseases for the health care personnel (HCP) and subsequently to frame the STW content.

Results: The selected diseases included acne and rosacea, alopecia, bacterial skin infections, cutaneous adverse drug reactions, dermatophytosis, eczema/dermatitis, immunobullous dermatoses, psoriasis, scabies, varicella and herpes, vitiligo, and urticaria. There was one separate module on rational use of topical corticosteroids. The STWs for these conditions have been finalised and are available as physical posters in health centers and can also be accessed online and through mobile applications.

Conclusion: Thirteen STW modules have been prepared with a view to optimize management of skin diseases at various levels of health care system of the country.

Keywords: ICMR; primary health care; skin diseases; standard treatment workflow.