Medica Superspeciality Hospital opened its gates to the people of Kolkata on April 14, 2010, with an aim to make a difference to the healthcare scenario in the city. Its first and foremost commitment has always been to its patients; and the hospital’s management has striven to contribute to the betterment of the city’s health through various innovative projects. Project Buddha and Chiranjeevi were started for the benefit of the people of its immediate locality and school children respectively. An EMI scheme, a first in healthcare, was offered to bring world class healthcare within reach of the economically weaker sections. Special health packages for indigent patients and discounted schemes for senior citizens were introduced. This year, Medica added two new schemes to its repertoire for the benefit of the people of Kolkata.
KARMA
The first, in collaboration with the Kolkata Police, is for road accident victims. Kolkata has long suffered a lack of properly established and coordinated trauma and ambulance services that can come to the prompt assistance of road traffic accident victims. Kolkata Police had been working to bridge this gap with 18 ambulances placed at strategic locations in the city to ferry trauma victims to the nearest hospitals. However, their initiative lacked the technical expertise that could be provided only by personnel trained in trauma care. To overcome this short coming, all leading hospitals of the city were invited to support in running the services. Medica Superspecialty Hospital, in association with Eastern India Healthcare Foundation, stepped in to bridge this lacuna and out of this collaboration was born KARMA: Kolkata Accident Rescue & Medical Assistance, a project that aims to provide 24 hours trauma care service to the people of the city.
The ambulances at the disposal of Kolkata Police were handed over to Medica to be pressed into 24-hours trauma care service. This initiative was officially launched by Commissioner of Police, Ranjit Pachnanda from the Police Headquarters at Lal Bazar on March 5, 2012. The effort has put Kolkata on the coveted list of cities in India where this service is currently available. The ambulances are manned by skilled and highly-trained paramedical staff, backed by an ever-vigilant command centre and the network of hospitals giving expert medical care. The ambulance services to the trauma patients are free.
All calls for accident-help are received by the Central Command Centre (033-66070707), located at Medica, or Kolkata Police toll free no (1073). The Command Centre is staffed by call receivers and ambulance dispatchers. Ambulance movements are tracked through GPS, with simultaneous monitoring by Kolkata Police Control Room and the Command Centre. A database of all Kolkata hospitals has been established so that patients can be taken to the nearest hospital, for immediate care.
Welfare scheme for caddies
The second is for the caddies, the often unsung heroes behind a golfer’s perfect drives. For an avid golfer who is up and ready to tee off every morning by 5 am, there is no person more important than his caddie. Be it superstition or a perfect understanding, the golfer and his/her caddie share a very special relationship on the greens – the outcome of a game often depending on this. Yet caddies, particularly in our country, barring a special few who have conquered the game itself, are a nameless, faceless lot, who accompany the golfers on the greens and are forgotten off it. Recognising a need to do something for the welfare of these people, Medica Superspecialty Hospital has launched a special Health Scheme for the caddies of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. Formally inaugurated on January 6, 2012, this health scheme will benefit the 200 odd caddies who accompany golfers at the RCGC. Under the scheme Medica will be providing the caddie, his wife and two children a health insurance cover. The hospital’s doctor will visit the Club twice every month to attend to the minor ailments of the caddies and dispense over the counter (OTC) medicines. In case of any emergency or any other healthcare requirement in between the doctor’s visit the caddies can come to the hospital for free check-ups and treatment under insurance coverage. Medica has also provided the caddies with uniforms (two sets each, including caps and shoes) to give them a parity while on the job. This first if its kind scheme in India, has been launched with support from the RCGC officials, and hopes to be a pioneer in more such projects around the country.
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