Sims Hospital, Vadapalani has started doctor-on-call program to reach people at their homes.
Health Minister I. Subramaniam, who launched the Hello Doctor 04420012001 helpline, termed it as a new scheme. “This plan will be at the forefront and is similar to Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvami Which was launched by the state last year,” he said.
According to him, more than 57 lakh people were benefitted under the scheme till March 28. It aims to identify one crore people who need medicines for non-communicable diseases and supply them at their doorstep.
Similarly, Inuyir Kappom More than 38,000 accident victims were benefitted by this scheme and so far Rs 33.5 crore has been spent in treating the victims within 48 hours of the accident. He said this brought down the number of deaths from 1,700 in January 2020 to 540 in January this year.
Health secretary J. Radhakrishnan said that such schemes of private hospitals which carried forward the programs of the state are a sign of their success. “People are in denial. Such services will provide ongoing care and prevent out-of-pocket expenses for the elderly who are in denial. We miss the opportunity to treat them first,” he said, adding that government and private sector health Service providers should complement each other
The head of infectious diseases and social medicine at the hospital, P. Kugnatham, said the scheme was launched to ease the suffering of the people and to raise the arms to reach people at their homes. There are plans to expand old age services, with the state having the largest population of elderly people, second only to Kerala. He said that the doctors would take care of the patients in their homes.
The hospital’s Managing Director Padmapriya Ravi and Vice President Raju Sivasamy participated.