Phase I: 'Healing Touch' will offer subsidized medical services initially starting in: DENTISTRY, GENERAL MEDICINE and OPHTHALMOLOGY. Phase II: Specialist Doctors to visit the six centers on Sundays & public holidays Healthcare is critical for each and everyone. Unfortunately, the basic healthcare needs of the lower strata of each and every society around the globe tend to be compromised not only in terms of affordability, but accessibility and simplicity as well. Standard and advanced diagnostic tests and specialist and super-specialist medical ethical opinions are even not accessible to some of the middle income groups as well. While the governmental agencies do their best, there is a vacuum of healthcare deficiencies in our society even today. On a modest but ambitious level, 'Healing Touch' is attempting to make a difference wherever it works. It is able to do that because of a single minded belief that healthcare for the poor & the needy should aspire for the same standards of excellence as healthcare for the rich; above all, it must reach out to where the poor actually live and work. Indeed, reaching out to the patient rather than the patient reaching out to the doctor is absolutely critical in a socio-economic situations such as ours, where potential loss of wages (in addition to cost of treatment) often hold people back from seeking medical care. Through Mobile clinics that will visit the villages, 'Healing Touch' will provide quality medical & dental care- using the latest equipment and with the support of qualified, dedicated doctors, paramedics and health volunteers. For tertiary care, it will then co-ordinate with governmental and non-governmental agencies and healthcare institutions to provide effective healthcare. Thus we ultimately want to ensure that the entire range of healthcare is provided to each and every patient. The emphasis is not merely on treatment but on prevention and care as well as education and guidance. `Healing Touch' will offer subsidized medical services (and in deserving cases free of cost) thru a custom-built air-conditioned, power backup medical van. It will park at the different parishes in Goa wherein patients of all faiths, residing in that area can avail of this medical facility. Onsite health camps for village schools will also be conducted. This onsite diagnostic & treatment medical van will be backed up with associations with leading doctors and medical institutions in the city for more detailed treatment at a subsidized price. 5. LIST OF EQUIPMENT ON BOARD: • TATA 709E Bus with body built by the Indian Army. • Power Generator, Air-condition, Water tank. • Dental Chair with all related equipment including X-Ray machine. 6. REQUIREMENTS: Eye Check up equipment. Ultrasound Colour Doppler. 7. MANPOWER: Project Leader Driver Assistant Nurse Accounts/Administrator/Storekeeper 8. ASSOCIATES: • Over 80 specialist doctors including physicians and dentists are on the panel of Healing Touch to render field & consulting services. • The Goa - America Heart Foundation Trust (a non profit Trust set up with financial and technical support from the USA)-to provide discounted services for the needy. • Central Clinical Lab - Government recognized testing lab - offer tests at a discount Lawrence and Mayo - Spectacle frames. • X - Ray Reports in association with a leading radiologist at discounted prices. • Various Hospitals-to provide tests & operational treatment at prefixed subsidized rates • Pharmaceuticals organizations to provide medication. • Maintenance / Purchase: HI-Tech Engineering Works and Reliable Life Saving Systems -Mumbai; Goa Dental Products & Services- Maintenance of Dental Equipment. ACTION PLAN: PHASE I • 'Healing Touch' to visit six locations a week-3 in the north & 3 in the south. [Friday Holiday]. • Health care cells created by CARITAS at different locations will create awareness, monitor & administer the logistics of appointment, patient history & deciding who should receive discounted treatment. • Dental treatment will be basic checkup, extraction and filling. • Charges to be nominal & the deserving cases to be free of charge except a nominal fee for registration. • Eye care will be eye testing. Discounts will be offered for eye glasses. PHASE II . Bus to visit the above mentioned six centers on Sundays & public holidays from 9am to 1pm . To have two centers in South Goa & two centers in North Goa where patients can be attended to. Locations to be preferably on the periphery of the cities. Latter one center in Vasco & one center in Ponda. . The medical bus- 'Healing Touch' will carry diagnostic equipment. Provisions to test blood also are made available. Three specialist doctors will accompany 'Healing Touch'. . Specialist doctors (combined) will attend to an average of 120 patients. . Health care cells will consist of the local General Practitioner, a registered nurse & a medical student besides other support staff. There will be two consulting rooms along with examination bed. TV & Video player in the waiting room . Patients identified for further tests or medical treatment including surgery will be referred to pre-arranged hospitals that will admit them at a discounted price by the specialist doctor treating/diagnosing them. . Medicines will be provided free/reduced rates as per pharmaceutical company's supplies. . At the six centers, awareness will be made about hygiene, medical insurance, government health schemes, mother child relationship, AIDS e.t.c. FUNDING: a. Initial investment: Rs. 25 Lakh b. Monthly requirement: Rs. 50,000. (Driver, Nurse, Assistant, Fuel, Maintenance, Media, Office rent and staff) c. Source of funds: Partly our own and balance through donations in cash and kind. Funds are raised through sponsorship, raffles and donations-both with medicines and equipment. EXPANSION PLANS: 1. Augmentation of the Mobile clinics to meet the demand. 2. Increase in the Mobile Clinics to combine with the Medical Centers to provide effective long term sol utions. 3. Counseling centers to address different issues like child abuse, sexual harassment, equality and justice for women, empowerment of physically or/and mentally challenged people, legal issues, family planning, etc. 4. Alternative therapies - Homeopathy, Ayurveda, etc. 5. Awareness programs - Hygiene, Environment, HIV etc 6. Mother and child care.
Healing Touch