Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Jaipur Foot

last updated Feb 6, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS)
Implementation Partner(s): 
Ministry of Social Justice & Empoverment, Govt. of India. (M.O.S.J.&.E) for ADIP Scheme, Roatary clubs for ( RJLP)
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
1975
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Government
Funders: 
Rotary club

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
100<
Number of Clients Served: 
1.2 million since inception
Summary: 

Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Jaipur was set up in 1975 as a formally registered society in India. It has developed an artificial lower limb prosthetic, the Jaipur Foot, to assist low-income amputees in developing nations. Today, BMVSS is the largest organization for the handicapped in the world in terms of fitment of artificial limbs and calipers, etc.

Key program components: 

Beginning with a very modest fitment of 59 artificial limbs in 1975, BMVSS is now fitting about 20,000 artificial limbs and about 30,000 polio calipers and other aids and appliances every year in its centres and through mobile camps in India and abroad. BBMVS clinics allow patients to check-in any time, day or night, and provide free room and board for those that have to stay overnight. Usually, fittings are completed in one session, minimizing the time patients must take away from work. Being a social organization engaged in humanitarian work, BMVSS provides all the artificial limbs, calipers, crutches, ambulatory aids like wheelchairs, hand paddled tricycles and other aids and appliances totally free of charge to the physically challenged. Approximately 90% of the patients served are below the poverty line.

In addition to its clinics, BMVSS has supported more than 30 artificial limb fitting independent institutions in the country by transferring its technology and giving training to their personal. To reach out the poor patients in rural areas of India, the static institutional approach was supplemented with mobile camp for on-the-spot limb- manufacturing and fitment, which was not possible with the traditional design and manufacturing process earlier. In addition to India, BMVSS also holds camps in 20 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America to fit people with artificial limbs.

Since its inception in 1975 over 1.2 million amputees and polio patients have been fitted inform of artificial limbs, calipers and other aids and appliances, giving them mobility and dignity. The number of beneficiaries in 2009-10 is 56,147. The number of beneficiaries in 25 countries outside India is 19,378. This assistance is provided free of charge.

As part of collaborative arrangement with BMVSS, the Stanford University has developed a new knee joint – called the Jaipur-Knee. According to the TIME Magazine (issue of 23rd Nov. 2009), Jaipur Knee is one of the world’s 50-Best Inventions in the year 2009. This joint has already been fitted to more than 2500 patients.

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