Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Rural Health Care Foundation

last updated May 2, 2013

Overview

Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2007
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Out-of-pocket payments

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
10-49
Number of Clients Served: 
Over 475,000 patients since inception with 22,442 patients being seen in March 2013; More than 2,000,000 patients seen between 2012 and 2013
Number of Facilities Operated/Networked: 
6 health clinics
Summary: 

Rural Health Care Foundation's goal is to develop a chain of sustainable rural primary care clinics across India targeting the poor populations unable to afford quality health care.

Key program components: 

There are currently 5 units operating in four districts of West Bengal. The health centers provide primary level of care excluding maternal and child health services. There are 4 departments running simultaneously in each of the centres namely general medicine, eye, dental and homoeopathy. All diagnostic tests are out-sourced to the nearest pathological laboratory, while blood sugar tests are done in the centres itself. Patients are provided with spectacles at a subsidized rate along with required power glasses. The Eye department identifies cataract/pterygium patients and the Rural Health Care Foundation arranges for free or subsidized surgery collaboration with various Rotary Eye Hospitals. Free cleft lip/palate operations of children are being arranged in association with Smile Train Foundation. Wheel chairs, blankets and crutches have also been distributed to needy patients. The health centres are open 6 days a week from 9am to 6pm.

Each center is manned by a doctor, pharmacist, paramedic, dentist and optometrist. There's an active database of doctors as the turnover is high. These medical professionals are assisted by 5 support staff. To overcome language and cultural constraints, all support staff are local residents. The centres are rented out and accommodation is provided to the staff.

They charge a nominal consultation fee of US$0.80 as registration charge in order to avoid misuse of services and to make the project sustainable. The fee includes the provision of 7-days worth of medicines and covers the operating costs of the centers. The medicines are procured by the team to make available at a lower price. The high volume of patients has helped make the centers to become sustainable.

Additional Information

  • In 2012 the Rural Health Care Foundation was awarded the 'Social Enterprise of the Year' in April; the Karmaveer Puraskaar, a National People's Awards for Citizen Social Justice and Action instituted by the citizens and people of India; the Mahindra and Mahindra Spark The Rise Award (both in November)

  • On 1st April 2013, on article on RHCF was published in The Telegraph, one of Calcutta's leading newspapers. Click here to view

  • During 2013, the Foundation hopes to open several new centres in order to establish their organization on a national scale.

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