For Postgraduate Doctors who choose to care for the most vulnerable.
Thank you for your interest. Applications are now closed.
A unique opportunity to earn hands-on experience, in diverse areas of specialisation, at hospitals in some of the most remote and resource-scarce parts of India.
A key issue in health is the poor availability of health professionals ready to take up the challenge of working with the most vulnerable communities in rural and remote areas. In search of suitable candidates, Azim Premji Foundation launched the Azim Premji Health Equity Fellowship, offering young health professionals the opportunity to learn the complexities of practising medicine while working for the most vulnerable in remote and resource-scarce geographies.
The Fellowship will provide doctors with diverse opportunities and experiences, including:
- Work in reputed hospitals under the guidance of experienced mentors
- A fraternity of like-minded Fellows and doctors
- Travel to some of the most remote parts of the country
- An honorarium (apart from relocation and travel costs). More details here.
- Certification of completion
- Participation in a placement process
Participating institutions
The Fellowship is a collaborative effort of Azim Premji Foundation and 11 prestigious institutions across India.
Through this partnership, we hope to offer Fellows a unique opportunity to work with some of the most distinguished institutions in the country. The 11 participating institutions are as follows:
- ASHWINI (Association for Health Welfare in the Nilgiris) Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
- Christian Hospital Bisamcuttack, Rayagada District, Odisha
- Chinchpada Christian Hospital, Nandurbar District, Maharashtra
- Herbertpur Christian Hospital, Dehradun District, Uttarakhand
- Jan Swasthya Sahayog, Ganiyari, Bilaspur District, Chhattisgarh
- Madhipura Christian Hospital, Madhepura District, Bihar
- Makunda Christian Leprosy & General Hospital, Karimganj District, Assam
- Shaheed Hospital, Dalli Rajhara, Durg District, Chhattisgarh
- Swasthya Swaraj, Kalahandi District, Odisha
- Sewa Rural, Bharuch District, Gujarat
- SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health), Shodhgram, Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra.
Key elements of the programme
This will be an 18-month-long, site-centred programme.
- The sites will be secondary hospitals in rural, remote, resource-scarce locations with case load and community health focus.
- Fellows must be postgraduates in Family Medicine, Community Medicine, General Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Anaesthesia, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics and Psychiatry.
- Fellows must be postgraduates, either fresh or with some work experience (from batches graduating between 2018 and 2025).
- The programme will feature two site rotations for each Fellow. There will be an anchor location and a second location. The duration of stay at the anchor location will be ~9 months, followed by 7 months at a second location and 2 months for perspective building/time-off/other tasks.
- A designated mentor will work with each Fellow. The Fellow and the mentor will identify areas for the Fellow to focus on during their stint and prepare a plan accordingly.
Language: Proficiency in Hindi, English, regional language as per location
For a more detailed understanding, please read the FAQs.
FAQ
Will the Fellows get an honorarium during the programme?
Yes, the Azim Premji Foundation will provide the Fellows an honorarium. It will be in two parts — a monthly payout of INR 50,000, and an additional payout of INR 1.8 lakh every six months. Additionally, relocation and travel costs across locations of participating institutions will be covered. Please note that the honorarium is intended to only cover expenses and is not a salary.
What is the timeline for the Fellowship?
- 30 June 2025: Last date for applications
- 21-25 July 2025: Selection process
- 31 Aug 2025: Last date for information regarding selection to Fellows
- September 2025: Scheduled commencement of the programme
What is the duration of the programme?
It has been designed as an 18-month programme.
What is the structure of the programme?
The programme will involve postings at two locations, interspersed with capacity-building sessions on community and social contexts. The Fellow will be posted at one location for ~9 months and at the second location for 7 months. Capacity-building sessions may take place at a predetermined location or online.
Who can apply?
MBBS graduates with postgraduation in Family Medicine, Community Medicine, General Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Anaesthesia, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics and Psychiatry. Candidates with postgraduate degrees (graduated between 2018 and 2025) recognised by the Indian government will be considered.
How will the programme benefit the Fellows?
With a diverse patient load, the hospitals will provide the Fellows with the opportunity to practise and learn clinical/surgical skills firsthand. The Fellows will also learn from highly experienced mentors at established medical centres in different parts of India, which will help them develop an understanding of community health and also acquire work experience.
Which institutions are a part of the programme?
The following institutions with extensive health work in the community and established rural hospitals are part of the programme:
ASHWINI (Association for Health Welfare in the Nilgiris) Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
Christian Hospital Bisamcuttack, Rayagada District, Odisha
Chinchpada Christian Hospital, Nandurbar District, Maharashtra
Herbertpur Christian Hospital, Dehradun District, Uttarakhand
Jan Swasthya Sahayog, Ganiyari, Bilaspur District, Chhattisgarh
Madhipura Christian Hospital, Madhepura District, Bihar
Makunda Christian Leprosy & General Hospital, Karimganj District, Assam
Shaheed Hospital, Dalli Rajhara, Durg District, Chhattisgarh
Swasthya Swaraj, Kalahandi District, Odisha
Since the programme involves staying in rural locations, what are the living arrangements for Fellows?
The institutions where the Fellows are posted will either provide adequate living arrangements (single or family, as the case may be) or facilitate the same.
How many locations will the Fellow be posted at during the programme?
Each Fellow can get posted to two locations on a rotational basis.
Will the programme provide a certificate recognised by a relevant medical authority?
At the end of the programme, a certificate of completion will be provided by the Azim Premji Foundation in conjunction with the participating institutions.
Since the locations seem remote and rural, will that also mean a lack of appropriate medical facilities for Fellows to practise their skills?
Each of these locations provides quality medical care. These institutions have developed their facilities over the years. Their websites give a sense of the medical facilities and extent of their work.
Can the Fellow take leave during the programme?
Yes, there is provision of leave. The exact duration and details will be shared later in discussion with the location of posting.
Can a site have only one Fellow?
Fellows will be working as part of the medical team on location. Depending on the availability of specialty departments and the number of applicants selected, a location might have 1-2 Fellows.
Will there be placements after the programme conclusion?
Based on requirements and mutual fit, placement-related discussions can be a part of programme conclusion.
What happens in case a Fellow wishes to move out of the programme midway?
In this case, an appropriate notice period will be worked out between the Fellow, the institution where the Fellow is serving and Azim Premji Foundation. Any deferred benefits due to the Fellow will be paid on pro-rata basis.
Is this programme like a specialised fellowship or residency?
This programme is different from a specialised fellowship or residency. We seek to offer rich experience in clinical and community work at the 11 participating institutions. This will help you understand the causes of ill-health as also its presentation, and how medical knowledge needs to be contextualised and applied for the benefit of not just patients, but also their families and the community at large, with a focus on the use of appropriate technology and medicines.
