About the Author
Dr. Vikar Saiyad is a Public Health Strategist and Researcher based in India, with specialised expertise in district-level implementation research, program monitoring and evaluation, and maternal and neonatal health systems.
Professional Background
Dr. Saiyad’s career spans frontline public health practice and academic research. He served as a district epidemiologist during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading evidence-based decision-making, surveillance coordination, and operational response for district health teams during one of India’s most demanding public health emergencies.
He currently works as an implementation research partner focused on achieving single-digit neonatal mortality through health systems strengthening, evidence-based program implementation, and accountability framework development. His work involves designing composite indices and quality care audit tools, developing data collection and monitoring workflows (KoboToolbox, ODK, Google Sheets, Power BI), and translating research findings into actionable policy strategies at the district and state levels.
Areas of Expertise
- Implementation research design and monitoring and evaluation frameworks for maternal and neonatal health
- District-level public health surveillance and epidemiology
- Research proposal writing, sample size calculation, and intervention study design
- Composite index development and scoring frameworks for quality care assessment
- Data collection tool design and workflow optimisation (KoboToolbox, ODK, Power BI)
- Stakeholder engagement and accountability frameworks for district health systems
- Evidence synthesis and translation for policy, academic, and operational audiences
- Public health communication and science writing for general and policymaker audiences
Why PublicHealthIndia.in
PublicHealthIndia.in was created out of a core conviction: that the distance between what public health science knows and what India’s communities, clinicians, and policymakers can act on is one of the most costly — and most preventable — gaps in India’s health system.
Dr. Saiyad writes and edits every article on this platform, grounding each piece in peer-reviewed evidence, framing it within India’s health policy context (PMJAY, NHM, ICMR data, ASHA/ANM systems), and writing for both the general public and policymakers. The goal is not to alarm — it is to inform, equip, and drive action.
Editorial Philosophy
Evidence without communication is inert. Dr. Saiyad writes in the tradition of rigorous science communication: no sensationalism, no fabricated certainty, and no content designed to generate anxiety rather than understanding. When the science is strong, readers know exactly why. When evidence is preliminary or contested, that is stated plainly.
Every article follows a strict editorial standard: evidence from primary sources only, mandatory India context, plain-language explanation of technical mechanisms, honest acknowledgment of limitations, and actionable guidance for both individuals and policymakers.
Contact Dr. Saiyad
Dr. Saiyad welcomes contact from fellow researchers, health professionals, journalists, policymakers, and engaged readers.
Email: saiyadvikar@gmail.com
Website: publichealthindia.in
For research collaborations, media inquiries, guest contributions, or speaking requests, please email with a brief description of your inquiry. Responses are typically sent within 48 hours.