Chandigarh, Dec 12 – Haryana Governor Sh Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office, allegiance, and secrecy to Dr. Sonia Trikha as a member of the Haryana Public Service Commission on Tuesday at Raj Bhavan. Many dignitaries, including Haryana Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal, were also present on this significant occasion.
Dr. Sonia Trikha has a notable background in the field of health and took voluntary retirement from the position of Director General of Health Services in the Haryana Government yesterday evening. Serving as the Director General of Health Services since April 2022, Dr. Trikha played a pivotal role in overseeing healthcare initiatives at primary and secondary level public sector facilities within the state. Her extensive leadership experience in the health sector includes roles such as Additional Director General Health Services, Director Health Services, Executive Director State Health System Resource Centre, Director State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, and Civil Surgeon. With a distinguished educational background and broad professional expertise, Dr. Trikha has been instrumental in transforming and elevating public health systems in the state.
Over the course of her 25-year career, she also served as a health consultant for several years with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Asian Development Bank.
Dr. Sonia Trikha holds an impressive academic background, having earned her MBBS with Gold Medal in 1991 and MD in Obstetrics/Gynecology in 1995 from Lady Hardinge Medical College, University of Delhi. She furthered her education with a Post Graduate Diploma in Health and Hospital Management from Indira Gandhi National Open University in 2009 and an MSc in Public Health from the prestigious London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine in 2013. Her professional journey includes roles as an Urban Primary Health Care Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in New Delhi from October 2014 to October 2015. Prior to this, she served as an HIV and AIDS specialist in UNICEF’s Delhi office between February 2010 and February 2012. In the same office, she worked as a Health Officer (Maternal and Newborn Care) from January 2009 to February 2010. From June 2007 to July 2008, she contributed as the National Advisor for Family and Reproductive Health in the Delhi Office of the World Health Organization (WHO), India. From July 2004 to June 2007, she served as Project Director in the State AIDS Control Society, Chandigarh. Dr. Trikha has also held various capacities in Multi-Speciality Hospital, Obstetrics/Gynecology Department Chandigarh, Primary Health Care Center Panchkula, Swachh Foundation, and Hindu Charitable Hospital Sonipat.
Dr. Sonia Trikha’s unwavering dedication and strategic leadership have made a significant impact on the enhancement of public health systems in Haryana, leaving a lasting imprint on the well-being of its population. Her tenure is marked by numerous accomplishments, with a notable contribution during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Trikha played a pivotal role in providing technical leadership to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her focus encompassed capacity building, laboratory testing, supply chain support, and ensuring the continuity of essential services. Under her guidance, the diagnostic capacity for COVID-19 testing soared from 300 RT-PCR tests per day to an impressive 15,000 tests per day from March to September 2020. During this critical period, Dr. Trikha’s efforts led to the establishment of specialized COVID-19 emergency departments and ICUs in secondary care facilities. She also initiated and spearheaded the creation of a 14-bedded Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the District Hospital Panchkula
Dr. Sonia Trikha led the successful implementation of the Hospital Management Information System (e-Health), incorporating Electronic Health Records (EHR) in 56 public health facilities. This initiative aimed to enhance the quality of services and ensure the seamless continuity of care for patients. Additionally, Dr. Trikha played a key role in monitoring and validating various indicators of the State Health Index (SHI) in close collaboration with NITI Aayog. Furthermore, she provided leadership in the development of the ‘Vision 2030’ document on Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), consulting with all relevant stakeholders. Dr. Trikha effectively coordinated the execution of multiple projects in collaboration with international organizations, including WHO, CDC, and J-PAL. Dr. Sonia Trikha has left an indelible mark on the field of public health through her research and publications. Her work spans a diverse range of critical healthcare aspects, ranging from antibiotic prescribing patterns to initiatives focused on maternal and child health.