Dhanvantri Rath

HEADLINES:

Dhanvantri Rath: Taking Non-COVID healthcare services to peoples’ doorsteps in Ahmedabad

WHY IN NEWS:

Hot from PIB !

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS just keep an eye on this van . This is a multi purpose van dedicated to serve as a lifeline for non-COVID patients.

For MAINS do you think Immunisation Program should also be included with this drive ?

ISSUE:

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while the COVID healthcare services are being taken up on priority, equal attention is being paid to non-COVID essential services in all the States/UTs.

Through the Dhanvantri Rath, a mobile van providing non-COVID essential healthcare services to the doorsteps of the people in the city.

UNIQUE INITIATIVE BY

A unique and innovative example has been set by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

FEATURES

Many of the large hospitals in the city have been dedicated for COVID-19 treatment.
Hence various measures have been taken to ensure that non-COVID essential services related to diabetes, blood pressure, heart ailment etc., are also provisioned to people who cannot visit the hospitals as many of them were not operating the OPDs.
One of interventions adopted by AMC is large scale deployment of the Mobile Medical Vans named ‘Dhanvantri Rath’.

These vans have an Ayush Doctor, paramedic and nursing staff along with local Medical Officer from Urban Health Centre of AMC.

OPD SERVICES : These vans have been visiting various areas and providing OPD services for non-COVID essential services and field medical consultations to people all over Ahmedabad City at their doorsteps.
CLINICAL TREATMENT : Dhanvantri Rath has helped identify those who need further clinical treatment or an IPD admission, and ensured that they reach the hospital in a timely manner.

The mobile medical vans carry all essential medicines including ayurvedic & homeopathic medicines, vitamin supplements, basic testing equipments along with pulse Oxymeter.

AMC has deployed 120 Dhanvantri Raths across the city.
The Dhanvantri Vans have successfully conducted over 4.27 lakh OPDs consultations, so far.

Deployment of the Dhanvantri Raths has had a substantial impact on COVID-19 management also, as several hidden cases could be identified in time.

From 15th June, 2020, the scope of health services of mobile medical vans has been extended to include malaria & dengue tests.

IASbhai WINDUP:

The intervention has helped to successfully treat over 20,143 patients with fever, over 74,048 with cough, cold & coryza, over 462 patients with severe respiratory tract infections were referred to Urban Health Centre & hospitals for clinical treatment,
Also, 826 patients with hyper-tension, diabetes and other co-morbidities for clinical treatment at the nearby urban health centres, community health centres, and hospitals.

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Dhanvantri Rath | UPSC

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis & Answer writing video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.