| Himalayan Hospital, Jollygrant, Dehradun | INDIA
Prof. (Dr.) Hem Chandra is internationally recognized as one of India's foremost authorities in Hospital Administration, Healthcare Management, Medical Education, Health Policy, and Public Health Leadership. With an illustrious professional career spanning more than 42 years, including 5 years in the Army Medical Corps and over 37 years in hospital administration, healthcare management, academic leadership, and medical education, he has played a transformative role in shaping Hospital & Health Administration as a recognized academic and professional discipline in India.
He currently serves as Advisor to the Hon'ble President (Chancellor) and Director, Hospital Services, Swami Rama Himalayan University and Himalayan Hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University, Dehradun (2018–2024), becoming the first hospital administrator-academician in India to attain the prestigious position of Vice-Chancellor of a Medical Education University.
Earlier, Prof. Hem Chandra devoted nearly three decades to the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, where he served in several key leadership positions including Deputy Medical Superintendent, Associate Medical Superintendent, Additional Medical Superintendent, Medical Superintendent, Additional Professor & Head, and Professor & Head of the Department of Hospital Administration. He also served as a Major in the Army Medical Corps before joining SGPGIMS.
Academic Qualifications
Prof. Hem Chandra possesses an exceptional academic background in medicine, hospital administration, healthcare management, and health systems research. He earned his MBBS from King George's Medical College, Lucknow (1982), followed by a Diploma in Hospital Administration (1990) from the Institute of Public Health & Hygiene, New Delhi, and an M.Phil. in Hospital and Health Systems Management (1994) from BITS Pilani. He further completed a PG Diploma in Health, Family Welfare & Population Education (1996) from Punjab University and obtained a Master in Hospital Administration (MHA) from AIIMS, New Delhi (1998), a qualification recognized by the Medical Council of India as equivalent to MD (Hospital Administration).
He subsequently earned a Ph.D. from Lucknow University (2003) for his research on Inventory Control Administration of Hospital Supplies and a prestigious D.Litt. from Lucknow University (2010) for his work on Financing of Medical and Health Care with Special Reference to Tertiary Care Services. He has also been awarded FRCP (London), FRCP (Glasgow), and FRCP (Edinburgh), in addition to being a WHO Fellow, FAHA, FAIMA, and FIMSA. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to healthcare and medical education, he received Honorary D.Litt. degrees from the University of Central America (2021) and Uttarakhand Open University (2022).
With seven major professional qualifications and multiple international fellowships, Prof. Hem Chandra is regarded as one of India's most academically accomplished experts in Hospital and Health Administration.
Additional Qualifications, Fellowships and Honorary Degrees
- FRCP (London), United Kingdom
- FRCP (Glasgow), United Kingdom
- FRCP (Edinburgh), United Kingdom
- WHO Fellow
- Fellow, Academy of Hospital Administration (FAHA)
- Fellow, All India Management Association (FAIMA)
- Fellow, International Medical Sciences Academy (FIMSA)
- D.Litt. (Honoris Causa), University of Central America (2021)
- D.Litt. (Honoris Causa), Uttarakhand Open University (2022)
His qualifications represent one of the highest academic achievements ever attained by a professional in Hospital Administration in India.
Academic, Research and Scholarly Contributions
Prof. Hem Chandra is among India's most prolific scholars in Hospital Administration and Healthcare Management.
His scholarly contributions include:
- Author of 12 books on Hospital Administration, Healthcare Management, Healthcare Financing, Health Economics, Medical Equipment Management, Hospital Inventory Systems, Quality Management, and Public Health.
- One additional book on Healthcare Financing in India currently under publication.
- Author of 25+ book chapters, training manuals, curriculum modules, and educational resources for organizations such as IGNOU, NCERT, and PSSCIVE.
- Published approximately 180 research papers in reputed national and international journals.
- Research contributions spanning:
- Hospital Administration
- Healthcare Quality & Accreditation
- Health Economics
- Healthcare Financing
- Biomedical Waste Management
- Public Health
- Healthcare Policy
- Medical Ethics
- Disaster Preparedness
- Hospital Information Systems
- Health Systems Management
His research has significantly influenced healthcare governance, hospital operations, healthcare quality systems, and public health management in India.
Teaching, Mentorship and Capacity Building
With more than 31 years of teaching experience, Prof. Hem Chandra has mentored generations of healthcare administrators and hospital managers.
His educational achievements include:
- Supervision of 328+ postgraduate dissertations and theses.
- Mentorship and training of 470+ postgraduate students.
- Establishment and strengthening of Hospital Administration programs across India.
- Development of academic programmes at:
- SGPGIMS, Lucknow
- Lucknow University
- Banaras Hindu University
- Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University
- IGNOU
- HNB Uttarakhand Medical Education University
- Government Medical College, Agartala
The IGNOU PG Diploma in Hospital & Health Management Centre established under his leadership became one of the country's most successful centres, producing multiple Gold Medalists and receiving recognition as a Centre of Excellence.
Leadership and Administrative Excellence
Prof. Hem Chandra has served in several nationally significant leadership positions:
- Vice-Chancellor, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University
- Advisor to Hon'ble President & Director, Hospital Services, Swami Rama Himalayan University and Himalayan Hospital
- Professor & Head, Department of Hospital Administration, SGPGIMS
- Medical Superintendent, SGPGIMS, Lucknow
- President, Academy of Hospital Administration, India
- Member, National Medical Commission (Government of India)
- Member, Governing Body, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
- NABH Assessor, Quality Council of India
- WHO Expert Committee Member on Biomedical Waste Management
- Chairperson and Advisor to the Government of Uttarakhand during the COVID-19 pandemic
His leadership has profoundly influenced hospital accreditation, healthcare financing, healthcare quality, biomedical waste management, medical education reforms, and health policy formulation.
Special and Unique Achievements
Prof. Hem Chandra has achieved several historic milestones that distinguish him as one of the most accomplished Hospital Administrators in India.
Historic Firsts
- First and only hospital administrator-academician in India to become Vice-Chancellor of a Medical Education University.
- First and only hospital administrator-academician in India to receive FRCP fellowships from all three Royal Colleges:
- FRCP (Glasgow)
- FRCP (Edinburgh)
- FRCP (London)
- First MCI-recognized Hospital Administrator in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- First qualified Hospital Administrator in India to become a Member of the National Medical Commission.
- First and only qualified professional Hospital Administrator in India with a post-doctoral D.Litt. qualification.
- First Fellow of All India Management Association (FAIMA) from the medical fraternity in India.
- First Fellow of the Academy of Hospital Administration (FAHA), India.
Academic and Professional Records
- Highest number of professional qualifications in the field – 7
- More than 37 years as a dedicated Hospital Administrator and Academician
- Approximately 180 research publications
- 12 published books
- 328 postgraduate dissertations supervised
- 38 national and international awards
Innovation and Healthcare Systems Development
Prof. Hem Chandra has pioneered several innovations in healthcare management.
One of his notable innovations is eRTIMed, a specialized software platform developed to improve efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness in handling Right to Information (RTI) processes in healthcare institutions.
He has also developed:
- Healthcare training modules
- Competency-based curricula
- Hospital management systems
- Administrative frameworks for healthcare quality improvement
- Educational resources for national healthcare organizations
COVID-19 Leadership and Public Health Service
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Uttarakhand entrusted Prof. Hem Chandra with major strategic responsibilities.
He served as:
- Chairperson of the COVID-19 Expert Group
- State Advisor for COVID-19 Prevention and Control
- State Nodal Coordinator
- Technical Advisor for Pandemic Policy Development
His contributions included:
- Strategic planning and policy support for pandemic response.
- Training of 17,862 healthcare professionals through 362 training programmes.
- Coordination of public and private healthcare systems.
- Development of evidence-based prevention and treatment recommendations.
- Leadership in state-wide healthcare preparedness and response initiatives.
In recognition of his extraordinary service, he received the prestigious Corona Yodha Samman.
International Academic Engagement
Prof. Hem Chandra has represented India in more than 19 international academic assignments and professional engagements, including participation in conferences, workshops, policy forums, and healthcare management programmes in:
United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, Bhutan, UAE, Sri Lanka, USA, Nepal, South Africa, Bangladesh, Turkey, Switzerland, Australia, Mauritius, Japan, Maldives, Singapore and other countries.
His international presentations have focused on:
- Healthcare Financing
- Hospital Administration
- Medical Tourism
- Disaster Preparedness
- Healthcare Quality
- Biomedical Waste Management
- Health Systems Strengthening
Awards and Recognitions
Prof. Hem Chandra has received 38 prestigious national and international awards, including:
- Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Asia Healthcare Excellence Award
- 100 Most Impactful Healthcare Leaders
- UP Ratan
- Uttarakhand Ratan / Uttarakhand Gaurav
- AHA Ratna
- Award for Excellence
- Indo-American Award
- Corona Yodha Samman
- Accredited Management Teacher (AIMA)
- Honorary Doctorates and D.Litt. Degrees
- Guinness World Records Recognition associated with a National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences initiative
His awards reflect sustained excellence in healthcare leadership, administration, education, research, and public service.
Legacy and Impact
Prof. Hem Chandra's lifelong contributions have fundamentally transformed Hospital and Health Administration in India. Through pioneering academic programmes, healthcare leadership, policy development, hospital quality systems, healthcare financing reforms, public health initiatives, research, and professional mentorship, he has helped establish Hospital Administration as a modern scientific and professional discipline.
His unique combination of academic distinction, visionary leadership, policy influence, scholarly excellence, healthcare innovation, and national service places him among the most accomplished Hospital Administration experts in India and internationally.
Eligibility for the Nobel Professor Award
Prof. Hem Chandra is an exceptionally deserving candidate for the Nobel Professor Award under the Scientific Laurels Program. His more than four decades of distinguished service, pioneering contributions to Hospital Administration, unparalleled academic achievements, influential policy leadership, extensive research output, national and international recognition, and transformative impact on healthcare systems collectively establish him as one of the most influential healthcare management leaders of his generation.
His career stands as a model of excellence in healthcare leadership, medical education, research, public health governance, and hospital administration, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of healthcare professionals.