ISG Advocacy Committee

Dear Colleagues,

In the last Governing Council Meeting held in Kolkata, several memebrs felt the need for enlarging the scope of our society from its present role of promoting good gastroenterology practice, need based research and awareness about digestive disorders, to advocate and implement policies that promote Digestive Health (DH) .The glaring example is our country’s paradoxical position of having 4 of the 10 richest men in the world, and yet not being among the 150 odd countries that provide Hepatitis B vaccination to all infants. While we may point fingers at the government, have we, as a united body, done enough to advocate or lobby for such causes that concern us?

The Advocacy Committee, as I understand it, is a move in this direction.

How do we go about it?

I suggest that we seek as many suggestions as possible from al, the members, generate discussions and debate on any or all issues and try develop a consensus building approach to go forward. This blog is therefore a brainstorming and consensus-forming platform; it in no way seeks to reduce the sanctity of the ISG website. A blog may provide an opportunity to discuss issues on an ongoing basis, and may help us formulate and consolidate our thoughts and plans that we may place before the Governing and General Bodies of the ISG when those meetings occur.

To initiate discussion, I am putting down some of my ideas as a template for you to respond.

Aims and Objectives

1.      To identify issues pertaining to digestive health that need change  in the community

2.      Generate consensus among members regarding the type of change required.

3.       Identify agencies through which the change can be brought about (such as local or central government, world organizations, NGOs etc)

4.      Undertake research and planning to estimate the magnitude of the problem, strategies for change and the quantum of resource needed for effecting the change.

5.      Advocate the issues with the concerned agencies

6.      Monitor progress of the group as well as hurdles encountered.

This is aimed as an activity for social change; hence I feel all of us (along with our sister societies INASL and SGEI) could work together. In the end, it would be worthwhile for all of us to be part of a movement that brings positive change to society, rather than splitting ourselves to claim credit for it.
A.   Issues that need advocacy

This list could be long and needs your inputs, but may be broadly divided into the following sections and subsections.

1.       Health Care Delivery

a.       Hepatitis B related (example)

                                                                 i.      Vaccination programmes and implementation at different levels

                                                                ii.      HbsAg screeing /testing at antenatal check-ups

                                                              iii.      Ensuring HBsAg testing, vaccination and protection of all health care workers

                                                               iv.      Formulating regulations for health care providers who are HBV infected

b.      Endoscopy : availability, standardization and reporting of services

c.       Water and Civic Services for prevention of water borne infections

d.      Prevention and diagnostic strategies for common GI and Liver cancers, developing screening or surveillance programmes for high risk groups

e.      Act as facilitator for providing information on free/low cost special services for rare diseases like Gaucher’s Disease ( Dr Aabha is quite active in this area) or Wilson’s Disease etc

f.        Others

2.       Teaching and Training:

a.       Gastroenterology education

                                                                 i.      Creation of Gastroenterology departments in medical colleges (how many in the sate, where, justification, requirements of facilities and staff, scope of the department, common curriculum etc)

                                                                ii.      Ensuring adequate representation of Gastroenterology education (topics, contents) in

1.       Postgraduate (MD, DNB) training

2.       Undergraduate (MBBS) training.

                                                              iii.      Others

3.        Research:

a.       Identifying  thrust areas for research in India

b.      Advocate with research agencies for designing and funding of research on these topics.

                                                                 i.      Multi-centric

                                                                ii.      Single centre / Single PI based, on relevant topics

c.       Ongoing field / data based research by a team of “Research Core Group” to identify unmet needs and plan startegies.

4.        Policies

a.       Identify policies that need change/ thrust

b.      Advocacy with the concerned agencies

5.       Budget

a.       Adequate budgetary allocation may be attempted by the advocacy group at different levels

                                                                 i.      Central and state government, for Digestive Health (DH) related issues

                                                                ii.      Internationa agencies, for issues related to DH in India or region (south Asia)

B.  B.    Whom to Advocate with

a.       Government

                                                               i.      Central

                                                             ii.      State level

                                                            iii.      District or local level

b.      International Bodies such as WHO, UNICEF, WGO etc

c.       Industry

d.      NGO’s

e.      Public / media / support groups

C.  Approach
I suggest a consensus building inclusive approach. ISG members may express their views by e-mail or post them on the blog, thus generating discussion and debate. We could use the same approach for nominating people to diferent subcommittees of the Advocay Group.
D.  Structure of the ISG Advocacy Group

I suggest we have the following subcommittees to tackle specific tasks:

a.       Negotiators or Lobbyists: this group ( please suggest a better name) should comprise senior members with standing, who have reach and can advocate on behalf of ISG with the government or agencies, listed in “B”. Nominations are welcome. Some senior members can be invited to join this subcommittee.

b.      Research Wing: should comprise members who are good at gathering data, evaluating scientific reasons and evidence, and preparing presentations for supporting the senior lobbyists.

c.       Core subcommittee: to coordinate and keep all members of the Advocacy Group comnnected and monitor progress. This role could be performed by the president and Hon Secretary, along with 1or 2 others ( might be important to maintain continuity of the program as the President’s term will be short and the change too frequent.

E. Examples of the Advocay role played by other societies

         I understand that the pediatric society has played an important role in recommending or rejecting                the role of Pneumococcal vaccines being promoted in India, arguing that the strains in the vaccines do not match the ones that occur in India. I am sure there will be many examples. Please share your observations that we may emulate, on the blog.

F.        The functioning of the committe will have to be monitored, time lines will have to be followed and impact evluation done from tome to time. I propose that the progress be placed before the Governing Council of ISG 2 times a year by the Core Sub-committee, for the purpose.

This is a concept paper. I request all of you to provide your suggestions, comments and ideas, preferrably on the blog, so that we may have a truely open discussion forum and evolve a consensus building approach. I will upadet the blog fortnightly till we resolve the plan of action and decide our course. Seeking your active participation.