Executive Summary: It is comprehensively understood that when individuals experience health problems and illnesses, they make visits to medical and health care centers to seek medical treatment. There is a need to formulate measures and programs to bring about improvements in medical and health care facilities in rural areas. Rural Health care is one of the biggest challenges facing the Health Ministry of India. With more than 70 percent of the population living in rural areas and a low level of health facilities, mortality rates due to diseases are on a high. 

Reality of Healthcare in Rural Areas of Himachal Pradesh: Healthcare is the right of every individual but thwarts its reach to 60% of the population in India. Considering the picture of grim facts there is a dire need of improving our healthcare system. Though a lot of policies and programs are being run by the Government, the success and effectiveness of these programs is questionable due to gaps in the implementation. In rural India, where the number of Primary health care centers (PHCs) is limited, 8% of the centers do not have doctors or medical staff, 39% do not have lab technicians and 18% PHCs do not even have a pharmacist.

Focussing specifically on Himachal Pradesh, which is a hilly state in northern India and because of its physiography, it creates a barrier to health service diffusion and accessibility. Locals would not have had to face such hardships if the medical facilities at their village were at par. In rural Himachal Pradesh, some women have to walk for kilometers in snow to get maternal healthcare. Basic challenges are:-

• Inadequate Efficient Healthcare Centers/Hospital
• Inaccessibility of Ambulance
• Missing & un-efficient healthcare workers

Project Overview - A Feasible Solution by The Kalgidhar Society:

India has made significant advances in the health of its populations over more than a decade, reducing the gap between rural and urban areas and between the rich and the poor but the real challenge is to bridge the gap between rural people and finest healthcare facilities. The Kalgidhar Society established a fully functional Akal Charitable Hospital at Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh in the year 1994..This hospital surprisingly caters to the medical needs of patients covering an area of a radius of 60-70 Km.

Project Area and its Demography:

Sirmaur District - Sirmaur is the most south-eastern district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is largely mountainous and rural, with 90% of its population living in villages. 

ACH-Akal Charitable Hospital-Boon to Society:

A 120-bed Charitable Hospital at Baru Sahib in Himachal Pradesh, where free of cost healthcare facilities are provided to underprivileged rural and hilly people, virtually at their doorsteps. Our hospital has been providing free medical care to the tribal/rural poor of Himachal Pradesh. All BPL patients or others belonging to economically challenged families were given treatment. Many patients visit daily the OPD from far-flung surrounding areas spreading up to about 20 KM radius. In addition to the routine medical and surgical services. Apart from normal indoor facilities, infrastructure has also been created for deliveries of babies in short  emergencies of all kinds are also attended round the clock.  Ambulance services are available at the hospital itself.

Attendants are provided with free boarding and lodging during the period of treatment. The Preventive Care & Immunization Drive with the aim to educate the rural area masses on immunization and preventive care for different critical diseases the hospital sends its Mobile Medical Teams to different locations 

Services Provided:

• General Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Ear, Nose and Throat
• ENT Surgery
• Dental problems
• Eye Surgery
• Internal medicine and Cardiology
• Gynae and Obstetric Surgery
• Gynecology and obstetrics

Medical Camps:

In addition to routine services The Akal Charitable Hospital organizes general Medical Camps, Naturopathy and ophthalmologic Camps four times in a year. More than 100 operations are carried out in the camps absolutely free of cost. Surgeries like Hernia. Hysterectomy, cleft lip and cleft palate, skin waning, contractures following burns, eye operations. Plastic Surgery and Ortho Operations are done in camp. Well qualified doctors with specialization in medicine, surgery, psychiatry, gynecology, ENT, Dental, etc. attends the patients. Akal Psychiatric Services, Drug De-Addiction cum Rehab Center. It was inaugurated in July, 2016. This is the only center in Himachal Pradesh for providing drug de-addiction facilities for women. The unique feature of these centers is the incorporation of spiritual therapy with the modern scientific treatment. For this purpose, a structured timetable is followed. Counseling and psychotherapy-related services are provided to each and every patient and the respective family members.It is licensed for 25 beds and ensures the requisite staff per the licensing authority's requirement. The in-patients are provided with fresh and nutritious food, fruits, tea, etc. The services of qualified and experienced staff consisting of Psychiatrists, Doctors, Psychologists, Counselors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Health Workers etc. are at all available with us. 

Covid Relief Work:

The district magistrate declared Akal Hospital as a Dedicated COVID Care Center and Dedicated Health Care Center during the COVID-19 2nd Wave. During the 2nd wave, around 700+ COVID patients have been treated at this facility in a remote area.

Impact

• Through this project, the underprivileged and deprived rural masses are already getting free medicines, treatment including surgeries in the hospital and medical Camps.
• This is the only healthcare facility in the radius of 25kms. The patients travel over 65kms to avail the opportunity of free medical facilities.
• During the past 3 years, 53581 patients have been provided free medical care & 766 patients operated. We are committed to serve humanity.

CSR/Individual Support Required:

We seek support towards AKAL CHARITABLE HOSPITAL, Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh ensuring the great endeavor going, saving lives, as managing a hospital requires a huge initial investment along with high recurring expenses.

Our Hospital promotes a culture of inclusiveness irrespective of barriers like social (physical, literacy level, gender, ability, religious cultural barriers, etc.) and economical (land ownership, income levels)

Free Medical Facilities for All:

• The facility ensures easy accessibility to rural people without looking into caste, creed, religion, socio-economic background and ensures that communication is direct and helpful to the community.
• Our medical staff regularly organize programs to remove all the barriers & challenges. 
• We work regularly to improve organizational culture to value and understand inclusion.
• The hospital is equipped with the latest medical equipment to provide finest healthcare to the rural population. 
• Medical records systems are used to help doctors to have effective discussions with their patients. Faster & better disease detection through in-house laboratory.
• Personalized healthcare support for the locals.
• Tele-counseling is provided to patients post-treatment.

Relevant strategies/activities for successful implementation:

• Improving access to high quality health care facilities providing services for Internal medicine and Cardiology, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, ENT Surgery, Dental problem, Gynae and Obstetric Surgery. Fully equipped FREE Ambulance services are provided to the patients to avail the treatment at the facility.
• Engage a variety of stakeholders and harness the collective power of local leaders and community members to create awareness about healthcare. 
• Obtain and develop resources for finest healthcare support for effective action.
• This facility acted as a lifesaver for the entire district as the only Dedicated COVID Care and Health Center in Sirmaur and almost 700 patients were provided with FREE treatment during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
• Provide quality healthcare facilities to ensure physical, social and mental health and be in relatively close proximity to patients. Providing quality care in outpatient and inpatient during FREE Medical Camps every quarter, protects and improves the health of patients.

Other Measures Adopted by The Kalgidhar Society:

• The hospital is equipped with the latest medical equipment to provide finest healthcare to the rural population.
• Medical records systems are used to help doctors to have effective discussions with their patients.
• Faster & better disease detection through in-house laboratory
• Personalized healthcare support for the locals.
• Tele-counseling is provided to patients post-treatment.