Subject:Social Work Class: MSW

Year/Semester : -First

Name of the Paper:105 Medical Social Work

Topic: EVOLUTION OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK IN INDIA

Sub-topic: HISTORY OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK IN INDIA

Key-words: PGI, AIIMS, HISTORY , medical and

psychiatric
DR. SHAILA PARVEEN
Associate Professor
Deptof Social Work
M.G.Kashi Vidyapith Varanasi
drshaila@mgkvp.ac.in
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List of contents Learning Objectives
•Introduction The main purpose of this PPT is to
make you understand the basic
•Definition of Social Case Work concept of Social Case Work ,Values of
Social Case work and about the basic
•Objectives of social Case work assumptions of Social Case Work

•Values of Social case work

•Basic assumptions of Social Case

Work

•Summary
INTRODUCTION OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK

 Medical social work is the application and adoption of

the method and philosophy of social work in the field
of health and medical care. It is Branch of social work
and deals with the social, physical and psychological
aspects of patient.
 HISTORY OF MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK(INDIA)

 Kautilya ‘s arthasastra –mentioned about the mental disorders .Mental disorders

mentioned in ayurveda, unani and siddha ,Mental illness was considered as the
demons and sins. Mauryan period concentrated on community psychiatry (world
famous caves at ajanta, ellora ) King ashoka concentrated on mental health .Lord
venkateshwara temple- chola period referred sri veeracholaeswara hospital ,Maulana
fazulur – hakim & mahmood khiliji – started mental hospital at kilpauk.

 At the down of independence it became clear that planning as tool was essential to
overcome deficiencies in the health service schemes. The government of India
appointed Bhore committee in 1943 to survey the then existing conditions and health
originations in the country and to make recommendation for the future development
 Continued….
 A reference to it was officially mentioned in 1946 in the Health Survey and
Development Committee’s (Bhore Committee) Report recommending appointment of
trained hospital social workers in the following words, “we have little doubt the
general efficiency of all the large hospitals in India will be greatly influenced by
appointing trained hospital social workers on their staff as has been the experience
recently in Great Britain and America”. This impetus for the development of Medical
Social Work in India was also received from other developments in the field of Medical
Service. Following the Bhore Committee’s Report the newer concept of social and
preventive medicine entered into field of medical education in India as also in other
parts of the world, Medical Social Work being considered as one of its essential
component. Similarly the medical and health services in the country began to feel in
an increasing degree the importance of Psychiatric Medicine as a result of which many
hospitals particularly the teaching once established Psychiatric Clinics both as part of
teaching programme as well as of service.
 Continued…
 The committee reviewed the nation health under:
 1) public health
 2) medical relief
 3) professional education
 4) medical research
 5) inter national health
Recommendations of Bhore committee: The report of Bhore committee was published in 1946 before
India
independences. Its recommendations were as follows.
a) No individual shall fail to secure adequate medical care because of in ability to
pay for it.
b) In view of the complexity of modem medical practice, the health services
should provide when fully developed, all the consultant, laboratory and
institutional facilities necessary for proper diagnoses and treatment.
c) The health services must, right from the beginning lay special emphasis on
preventive work.
 Continued….
 d) The need for providing medical relief and preventive health care to the vast rural
population of the country is very urgent.

 e) The health service should be placed as to as possible to the people in to the community,
i.e. the target group.

 f) It is essential to secure the active co-operation of the people in the development of the
health programme.

 g) The report in this long term programme recommended a primary health unit for a
population of 20,000, a secondary unit for a population 6, 00,000 and a district headquarters
organization for a population of 3 million. In its short term programme the committee
recommended a primary unit for a population of 6,00,000 and a district headquarters for a
population of 3 million.

 h) A three month tanning in Preventive and Social Medicine to prepare social physicians who
would guide people towards a healthier life.

 I) Training of 500 hospital Social Workers.

 Recommendation on functions of Medical
Social Worker according to Bhore committee:
 a) Discovering and making available to the medical staff, any factors in the patient environment that may
have any bearing on his physical conditions, thus supplementing medical history with social history. This
would include any facts of heredity, personality, manner of life, home environment, worry about finances,
dependents, characteristic of employment and strains and hazards incidental, recreations and standard of
living generally, in short all facts that influence diagnosis.

 b) Influencing and guiding patients in carrying out treatment, making the physician’s directions simple and
concrete and helping them to carry out the plan of the treatment through to completion.

 c) Over coming obstacles to successful treatment or recovery particularly in the out patient department,
and during convalescence. Under this head also, it may be necessary to see that medical and surgical
supplies (instruments, spectacles, dentures etc.) are secured, that social and economic conditions affecting
the patient adversely are corrected and that as far as possible , a situation favorable to recovery is secured.
This last may mean new employment, temporary financial assistance, relieving patients of responsibilities
for care of children, special assistance with food etc. It will also include the provision of a sanatorium or
convalescent treatment where advised by the medical staff.
 Continued…
 d) Arranging for supplementary care pf patient. This and the next duty will require a thorough
knowledge and the powers and duties of all the available social and health agencies of the
country.

 e) Educating the patient in regard to his physical conditions in order that he may batter co-
operate in the program laid down by the physician ; this programme provided not only for the
cure of illness, but the promotion of health with a view to the prevention of illness. Without this
service much valuable and expensive treatment would be wasted because of its ineffectiveness.

 f) Discussing with patients there resources and collecting, if required to do so, their contribution
towards the cost of the treatment given.

 g) Checking the abuse of hospitals, both as to out patient and in patient, who on examinations are
found to be In a position to pay for treatment, persons insured under the national health acts,
entitled to the services of a panel doctors and not requiring special hospital treatment and
beyond the power to benefit by any assistance other them that obtainable through public
assistance committee.
 Training of Medical Social Worker:
 During the same period, professional training for social workers was started by
Tata Institute of social sciences (then known as Sir Darobji Tata school of social
work). At that time two year graduate course were being given, in addition to the
pre -professional and general course. This covered the following:

 1) family and child welfare

 2) Juvenile and adult delinquency

 3) Industrial relation and labour problem

 4) Administration of social work

 5) Medical lecture for social work

 6) Medical hygiene and psychiatry for social workers

 7) Social and family case work.

 Continued…
 The member of Bhore committee had met Dr. Kumarappa, the than director of TISS
and had discussion with him regarding the training of social workers. The committee
felt that these courses were too specialized and restricted and would require
considerable modification and expansion in order to meet the needs of hospital
services.

 Though historically Medical Social Work in India began in hospitals, it has gradually
spread over a period of time to Clinics, dispensaries, rehabilitation center, Research
institutes, Public Welfare agencies and Community Health Programmes. However, a
majority of them still work in hospitals. Due credit must be given to the pioneering
social workers who demonstrated the valuable contribution they can make in
prevention and treatment of illness and rehabilitation and who paved the way for the
growing body of professionals in this field.
 Professional Institution for Medical &
Psychiatric Social Work in India
 TISS- 193

 Dept. Of Social Work, Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi.

 ISSW-1951

 DSSW- 1955

 Baroda School of Social Work 1958

 Bhopal School of Social Sciences 1960

 RIMPAS

 GMCH

 NIMHANS
1936: History of M&PSW started with the establishment of Sir Dorabji
Tata Graduate School of Social Sciences in Bombay. Now know as
TISS.
1937: It started a CGC clinic at Nagpada, MH. Under the directorship
of Dr. K.R. Masani from J.J. Hospital Bombay where a Social Worker
appointed (Temporary) in field of Health for Child development.
1938: A full time social worker was employed in this CGC clinic from

TISS. It was the first time when first social worker job was filled up
as a full time employee.
1939: The medical & psychiatric Social work training started in
India.
1946: Bhore-Committee derived the Term Medical & Psychiatric
Social Work . This committee recommended the Social services dept.
in hospital and made the plan for training of M&PSW
1946: Bhore-Committee derived the Term Medical &
Psychiatric Social Work . This committee recommended the
Social services dept. in hospital and made the plan for
training of M&PSW

1947 : Training of Social Work started in Mahatma Gandhi

Kashi Vidhyapith was started by Prof Raja Ram Shastri
named as Institiute of Social Science providing courses
both at undergraduate level and Post graduate level .Prof
Raja Ram Shastri was a trained AND practicing case worker
in USA so he started Medical and Psychiatric training from
the very initial .
APPOINTMENT in the Field of Medical & Psychiatric Social Work

1948: Gouri Rani Benerjee, Research Scholar, has completed her

training in M&PSW from School of Social Science & Administration,
at Chicago.

1949: Yarvada mental Hospital Pune, Malati Ranade appointed as

a Social Worker, After completion her training in M&PSW. She was
the 1 st social worker in adult psychiatry

1950: J.J. Hospital Bombay: A social Worker Appointed into

Psychiatric department.
1952 The combined course of & Medical & Psychiatric Introduced. Dr. Banerjee, who did
the pioneering work in Social Work Field. Till 1955: The Credits for the growth of M& PSW
goes to the TISS in the state of MH.

1955: Positions of SW created in west Bengal related to Health Services West Bangal was
introduced as a part of medical Social Services . Social Welfare officer in the state were
posted in Govt. hospital and administratively responsible to the Deputy Director , Social
Welfare Dept.

1955: Delhi School of Social Work (DSSW) established and started providing the training in
the field of Social Work.

1956-57: This phase created the many position of Social Worker in the field of Health
1958: DSSW, established the CGC and appointed a full time Social Worker was appointed
for health and developmental issues.

1960: AIIMS created the post for Social Worker (Medical)

1961: Dr. Sharda Menon, at Madras Mental Hospital started – Industrial Therapy unit,
sheltered workshop, counselling, consultation to college & institute and created the
position for SW in the field of Health
1960: AIIMS created the post for Social Worker (Medical)

1961: Dr. Sharda Menon, at Madras Mental Hospital started – Industrial Therapy unit, sheltered
workshop, counselling, consultation to college & institute and created the position for SW in the field of
Health .

In 1960s Mrs Gauba trained from Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidhyapith was appointed as Psychiatric Social
Worker in IMS BHU( Department of Psychiarty)

1961: Social Worker positions were created in Mental Hospital Bangalore. In 1971 change its name as
NIMHANS. This hospital introduced a diploma course in PSW to enable SW to work in field of Mental
Health.

1962: The Nur-Manzil Psychiatric Clinic opened in Lucknow, and appointed the SW.

1962: Safdarjung Hospital generate the post of social worker in Medical Social Service Dept.

1962: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi appointed the Social Worker for health purpose.

1964: Shahadra Mental Hospital established by Delhi Govt. which is known as IHBAS, Dilshad Garden.
Delhi. Appointed the SW in PSW dept.
ASSOCIATIONS OF MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORK IN INDIA

Indian Society of Psychiatric Social Work, which was established in the year 1970 by Dr. R.K.
Upadhyaya and his staff of the Dept of Psychiatric Social Work, Central Institute of Psychiatry,
Ranchi. Later, it has been constantly upgraded to reach this current status of professional identity
and recognition by Dr. I. A. Shariff (Retd. Professor & Head) and Faculty Members, Dept. of
Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore. The
nomenclature of the Society was changed in ANC of ISPSW (Dec.1988) at Kolkata, because of an
increased representation of educators, practitioners and researchers from all streams of social work
in the Society.
Milestones of the ISPSW
Started ISPSW in 1970 by Dr. R.K. Upadhyaya and his staff of the Dept of Psychiatric Social Work,
Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi

First National Conference in 1973 at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi (U.P.)

First Joint Conference in 1979 at NIMHANS, Bangalore (Karnataka)

The nomenclature of the Society was changed in ANC of ISPSW in 1988 at Kolkata

Silver Jubilee Conference in 2006 at Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, Bolpur (W.B.)

2 All India Association of Medical Social Work Professionals, New Delhi (AIAMSWP)
is a registered non–profit, non-political, National level organization dedicated to
the promotion of standards and enhancement of the status of Social Work
Profession in health care in India.

AIAMSWP was established in 2009, following the concerns of Professional Social

Workers to cater to the need of having an organization at the National level. Since
its inception, it has been making attempts to bring Professional Social Workers on
one platform so that a collective identity of the Profession could emerge. AIAMSWP
intends to fulfill the twin purposes of promoting Social Work Profession in health
care within the country together with safeguarding and protecting the interests of
Social Work Professionals working in health care. Its Secretariat is located at
PGIMER, Chandigarh and President’s office is located at AIIMS, New Delhi.
 REFERENCES
 Sinha NK, Health in Yojana, Vol.XXIV, no. 14- 15,1980, pp. 77 to 78
 Health Survey and Development Committee’s (Bhore Committee) Report, 1946, Government of India,
New Delhi, 1946.
 Marulasiddaiah and I.A.Sheriff , Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Practice and Education in India , Nair
, T.K. Social Work Education and Social Work Practice in India ,Madras: Association of School of Social
Work n India, 1981
 S C Seal, Hand Book of Medical Social Work and Sociology of Patients, Dawn Books, CIT Road, Calcutta,
1974, pp 4-5
 S C Seal, Hand Book of Medical Social Work and Sociology of Patients, Dawn Books, CIT Road, Calcutta,
1974, pp 3
 Dr, G. R. Banneijee, Indian Journal of Social Work, Vol-VII, No.-2, September 1946, Tata Institute of
Social Science, Mumbai.
 Paul Chowdhary, “Introduction to social Work” third revised edition, Atmaram & sons, Delhi, Lucknow
http://www.mgcub.ac.in/pdf/material/202004121744374689d36b22.pdf
http://ispsw.in/
https://aiamswp.org.in/