Summary

Swasth is a network of self-sustaining health centers located in slums that provides quality & affordable primary healthcare services to India's urban poor. Supported by a Community Outreach Program and a referral network, they act as gateway to comprehensive health services.

Program goals

The objective is to provide comprehensive healthcare for the poor including insurance and health services.

Key program components

The health centers are located in low income areas (e.g. Slums, SRA buildings) acting as the first point of call for all health related matters for the community. Their model involves 5 D services (doctor, diagnostics, drugs, daycare and dental) at 50% of the market rate with 90% user satisfaction. The health centers offer the following services:

Doctor Consultation: A primary care physician (PCP) and dentist is available at each center. In addition, specialists - padeatricians, gynaecologists and MD Physicians - visit the centers once every 2 weeks on pre-fixed dates and times. Others - like a general surgeon, Orthopaedist, opthalmologist, etc. - visit on a need basis. The consultations are available at market price to non-members and 50% discount to members.

Diagnostics and Tests: Basic diagnostic tests through strips (e.g. Malaria, pregnancy, blood sugar level). The program also has its own central laboratory for diagnostic testing and centers also tie up with nearby diagnostic centers for tests, such as X-ray and ultra sound, and act as a blood collection center for more advanced blood tests (e.g. Lipid profile).

Drugs and Daycare: Primary-care and emergency-care medications and consumables are available at the centers. Swasth has set up its own medical supply centre and chain, and purchases medications directly from manufacturers, which helps to lower costs. The medications and consumables at the center are available at 30% discount to the MRP. Three beds are available at the centers to provide basic day care facility in case the patient needs to be provided with medication like IV fluids or kept under observation. Additionally, partnerships have been made with select nursing homes/hospitals to provide quality secondary and tertiary care.

Dental Care: Swasth Health Centers include dental care and each is equipped with an automatic dental chair and necessary equipment to provide all primary dental care treatments like tooth extraction, root canal, dentures, cleaning, etc. Services are delivered at at-least 40% lower cost than the market.

Preventive - Promotive Health: Swasth also spreads knowledge and awareness about good healthy practices, e.g. use of safe drinking water, reduction of stress for hypertension management. Low cost options for products which promote good health, hygiene and sanitation are available at the centers to improve access to these products (e.g. chlorine tablets, sanitary napkins, iron tablets).

Community Outreach: Swasth also has a Community Outreach Program that is staffed entirely by women belonging to communities served by them. Swasth identifies, nominates and trains 1-2 women from the catchment area of each health center as health workers.

Swasth's School Health Program improves the well-being of children from low-income families, by increasing detection and treatment of the most prevalent inhibitors of healthy growth (iron deficiency anemia, visual refractive errors and nutritional defi