Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]health/a-hospital-by-the-poor-for-the-poor-a-shrikumar-4673955.html"/> Health | A hospital by the poor for the poor -A Shrikumar | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

A hospital by the poor for the poor -A Shrikumar
-The Hindu

Suham Hospital, run by a women Self-Help Group is a forerunner in providing quality healthcare to the poor at a subsidised cost

Madurai: "Next week, we are installing an ultra-sound scan facility at a cost of Rs. 15,00,000. We are planning to invite the collector to inaugurate it," informs, C.K. Meena who along with few other Self-Help Group members run the Suham Hospital. "It involves the contribution of poor women from the surrounding villages. Each of them has a share in the initiative."

Suham is a hospital that runs entirely on the efforts of underprivileged village women and that is what sets it apart. Ever since its inception as a primary care centre in 2008, Suham has grown in terms of the patients it treats and the facilities it offers to become a secondary-care hospital with 25 beds, seven in-house and 27 visiting doctors, X-ray and scan facilities and an ultra-modern operation theatre.

A survey undertaken in early 2007 by the SHGs revealed that poor families spent 40 per cent of their income on medical treatments. "Lack of proper nutrition and hygiene in rural areas make these families prone to diseases and they are often required to visit doctors and hospitals shelling out a chunk of their meagre earnings on each visit, points out Lokamatha, facilitating officer at DHAN Foundation, who guides the SHG women in running the hospital. "Earlier we organised camps in the villages to make medical treatment available at a cheaper rate. But that wasn't making a significant difference. That's when we suggested they start their own hospital." And in a year's time, 18 federations of SHGs from across Madurai district, comprising nearly 30,000 families came together, contributing Rs.100 each and Suham was up and running.

"We have a sense of belonging towards Suham and never go to other hospitals. The SHGs also provide us with health insurance that covers five members in a family and our treatment costs are deducted from our accounts. We don't have to spend a single penny out of our hands," says Rajeswari, a daily-wager from Panangadi village, who gave birth to both her children at Suham hospital.

The hospital caters to a wide range of ailments. There's also an OP ward attended by two in-house general physicians. The in-patients are treated by specialists in Nephrology, Ortho, General surgery and gynaecology. Suham also has an exclusive labour ward that has seen more than 300 child births. Vijayarani, the OT staff says that so far around 1,000 surgeries have been done successfully in Suham. It also has a full-fledged lab where all kinds of bio-chemical tests are done at 20 per cent discount.

The hospital staff including doctors are paid by the SHGs. "Since the hospital is run like a Trust, we look for service-minded individuals for whom salary is not the priority," says Lokamatha. "The hospital board members conduct monthly meetings and maintain records for every penny spent."

"The treatment costs here are just one-third of what it is outside, but there is no compromise in the quality," says Deivanai, treasurer of the hospital board. "The pharmacy provides medicines at 12 per cent discount. Till last year, the medicines were sold at 50 per cent disount. "But since the companies increased the rate, we had to reduce the discount percentage," notes Deivanai. The members of SHGs are relieved of consultation, admission and treatment charges up to a maximum of Rs.15,000, which is remitted from their savings account with the federation. "Non-members can also avail treatments at subsidised rate, she adds, it's a poor-man's hospital."

Suham hospital apart from providing quality healthcare at an affordable cost, has also given livelihood to many rural women.

"The hospital has boosted self-confidence among women like me," says C.K. Meena. "I was a vegetable-vendor. Now I sign the salary vouchers for doctors working with us. I feel responsible and accomplished." The hospital that currently functions from a rented building near Fatima College has smaller branches in Theni, Sayalkudi and Salem. "The SHGs there replicated our model and the hospitals are running successfully," says Meena. "In Madurai we may be shifting to our own building in future, as we have bought a piece of land near Vaidyanathapuram."

The Hindu, 11 September, 2014, http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/suham-hospital-
provides-quality-healthcare-to-the-poor/article6401223.ece
?homepage=true