Corporate medicare at PHC

-    PHC Development Committee raised Rs 30 lakh from donors
-    Medical equipment purchased, facilities improved at PHC with donated funds
-    Received ‘Best Rural PHC Award’ from District Collector

Tirupati: The Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Kammapalli in Ramachandrapuram mandal in the district is providing medical treatment for villagers on par with corporate hospitals. So far, 19,000 patients from 10 villages in the mandal have availed medical services at Kammapalli PHC. In 2016, the State government had appointed a development committee with seven members for the PHC with Chinna Babu alias Murali Mohan as chairman. The PHC panel had decided to provide the hospital with the medical equipment and renovate the existing building. 

The required funds for purchasing equipment and taking up repairs for the PHC building was taken up with the donations. Responding to their appeal, the panel collected Rs 30 lakh from donors. A clinical laboratory, central oxygen supply system, pharmacy, ECG machine, delivery labour room with complete equipment, mineral water plant and 15 advanced folded beds for patients were purchased with the donations.  Two years ago, the PHC looked like a godown without proper medical equipment. At present, the panel has been doing the renovation of the hospital building. The government also extended support for the PHC by sanctioning Rs 1.2 lakh per year for its maintenance. The number of outpatients utilising the PHC services per day have rose to 100 from 50. 

More than 3 doctors and 13 medical staff have been providing the services for the patients at Kammapalli PHC. Recently, the hospital received the ‘Best Rural PHC Award’ from the District Collector in the category of doctors providing meritorious services to rural people. Speaking to The Hans India, PHC Development Committee chairman Chinna Babu said that more number of villagers are availing PHC services after improving medical facilities. He praised doctors Reddappa and Prasanna, who are serving at Kammapalli PHC, for providing medical care for villagers with patience. The PHC is providing round-the-clock services to institutional deliveries. A woman, Latha, who availed medical services at PHC, said facilities were improved with the initiative of the PHC panel. 

K Nethaji