Mobile OPD Vans Extend Free Primary Healthcare Services to Underserved Communities in Pune

Mobile outpatient department (OPD) vans operated by non-governmental organisations are bringing free primary healthcare services to underserved settlements in Pune, Maharashtra. The initiative aims to improve access to medical consultations, basic diagnostic services, and medicines for residents who may face difficulties travelling to hospitals due to distance, work schedules and treatment costs.

In Laxminagar, Yerawada, a mobile OPD operated by Smile Foundation visits a designated location twice a month. The fixed schedule allows residents to access healthcare closer to their homes. The service is particularly helpful for daily-wage workers and people working shifts, as travelling to the nearest public healthcare facility, Rajiv Gandhi Maternity Hospital, can take around 30 minutes, with OPD services available during restricted hours.

The mobile clinics provide doctor consultations, basic blood tests, eye screenings, antenatal care and medicines. They also screen for vector-borne and water-borne infections and refer patients requiring specialised treatment to government or charitable hospitals. The vans do not provide specialised diagnostic testing.

According to Smile Foundation, three mobile vans operate in Pune every day and screen an average of 90 patients daily. The organisation estimates that its vans cover approximately 4,500 patients each month in the city. The programme also supports people managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension by providing consultations and short-term medicine supplies.

The initiative also generates community-level health information through patient screening and maintains a database that can provide inputs to government healthcare authorities. By taking basic healthcare services directly to underserved neighbourhoods, mobile OPDs aim to reduce barriers to primary care and connect patients who need further treatment with established healthcare facilities.

Source: https://news.docthub.com/mobile-opd-vans-extend-free-primary-healthcare-services-to-underserved-communities-in-pune-N2701