In a conversation with Tarun Basu, Dr Nikita Bathla,  a medical doctor with specialisation in international public health and health management from UNSW Sydney, talks about the challenges of public health in India,  the inadequate policy attention and funding given to public health so far,  the importance of proper education and oritentation of public health professionals,  her valuable UNSW experience and the critical takeaways for Indian students from such an experience that are particularly useful in such crisis situations as present.