Maharashtra rolls out mega health-care plan for drought-hit farmers

As part of its attempt to provide better health care to families of drought-hit farmers, the state government is organising a mega health camp at Jalgaon.

This is for the first time that a camp, with the participation of doctors from the private sector, is being organised in drought-affected areas. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who inaugurated the camp on Saturday, said that the state would hold more such camps in all drought-affected areas.

Loan waivers alone won't help farmers as they often find it difficult to get proper medical attention, too, he said. The Jalgaon camp, which runs till Tuesday, will cover about 30,000 patients from Jalgaon and neighbouring districts. About 400 doctors are participating.

The highlight of the camp is that even surgeries that would require patients to go to hospitals in big cities are being conducted here. A few surgeries were done in nearby private hospitals. Doctors even promised free treatment for patients in future.

Dr Ranjit Jagtap, cardiac surgeon, Dinanath Mangeshkar hospital, Pune, performed a bypass surgery on a patient who had three blockages. "This is a great initiative. On the very first day, I performed one bypass surgery. Whenever any farmer need my assistance, they can get in touch with the organsing members or can call me directly," he said.

Not just that. Several pharmaceutical companies are also doing their bit by donating medicines. The organisers claim that experts of more than 30 diseases are attending the camp from different parts of the state.

The medical camp has a separate section for cancer patients and doctors from Tata Memorial hospital had been requested to attend to them. Dr T P Lahane, Dean, Sir JJ group of hospital, said: "The ophthalmology team has screened more than 5,000 patients and 550 cataract surgeries will be performed at the camp. At least 1,500 people are slated to undergo surgery in March."

"Farmers do not commit suicide only because of drought. Another reason is chronic disease. When a family member suffers from a chronic disease, which requires lakhs of rupees for treatment, and farmers are not able to meet the expenses, they commit suicide. This initiative will definitely help farmers and their families," Lahane said.

Dr Yashwant Amdekar, medical director, Wadia hospital; Dr Amit Maydeo, director, Baldota Institute of Digestive Sciences, Global hospital; and, Dr Shrirang Bicchu, nephrologist, Bombay hospital, are among the many practitioners at the camp.

Salman too offers help

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has also extended help to drought-affected farmers. Khan has promised organisers that he will bear the surgery cost of 50 children suffering from heart ailments. Sources said that the total cost would touch Rs 2.5 crore.

Jalgaon health camp

Cataract surgeries: 550

Patients: 30,000

Doctors: 400

Talukas: 15

Camp date: January 9-12