Following its vision of comprehensive welfare of farmers the World’s largest processed fertilizer cooperative Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) took a giant stride Friday in the field of affordable healthcare for farmers.
IFFCO picked up a stake in Gramin Health Care in pursuit of it’s mission to focus & enhance the health services provided to farmers. This strategic investment would enable underserved communities across India to have an access to quality and affordable health care by building one of its kind rural healthcare service networks. The endeavor is to reach out to over 10 Million rural population by the year 2020, a release from the cooperative major read.
Gramin Healthcare is an initiative with the sole purpose of facilitating medical services to the underserved communities across India through steadfast tele medicine technology platform delivered through qualified and experienced healthcare professionals.
India has massive healthcare gaps – The ratio of population to doctors is six times lower in rural India than urban India; 30 percent of the rural population has to walk an average of 30 km to access medical facilities. IFFCO along with Gramin Health Care intends to bridge this gap by facilitating timely medical advice and advanced diagnostics through manned and digitized healthcare clinics. These primary care centres would be based out of IFFCO Bazaar outlets located at tier 3 and Tier 4 rural hubs and offer services on diabetes management, timely diagnosis of heart ailments, optical care, women hygiene & healthcare. Every 10 primary care centres would be supported by one secondary nursing home equipped with a diagnostic laboratory, In-patient facility with basic and skilled nursing care, and a full range of therapies, treatments, and programs.
Dr. U S Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO said that we always take steps for the benefit of farmers. This new affordable & easily accessible healthcare service for the farmers will educate, alarm them & spread awareness among them for basic health. A stepping-stone towards good health for them. Dr. Awasthi further added that, We are putting up special health checkup camps in all the 125 locations across the country where we will be celebrating 50 Golden Years of IFFCO. Farmers have welcomed this step.
Mr. Manish Gupta, MD, IFFCO Bazar said it’s a very good value addition for the farmers visiting IFFCO Bazar retail outlets. Farmers will get most of the general health advice & services under one roof.
Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Ajoy Khandheria, Founder, Gramin Healthcare said, ”IFFCO is one of the most trusted name amongst farmers and rural population and through this association, we are building a well-connected network that would empower the farmers with one stop access to health care services.
By end of April, we would have our presence in 5 states i.e. West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh & Haryana and by end of 2017 we would be able to create an impact on 1Million lives. We would also be introducing, Health Cards at all our centres. These cards would be first of its kind where the farmer and its family would be able to avail primary medical care at a nominal monthly fee”, Khandheria said.