Introduction
India’s healthcare system has gradually improved over the past few decades, there are still scope remains to bring it at par with Global Health Standards which have a better healthcare system in terms of accessibility, affordability and quality. An astounding 70 per cent or nearly two-thirds of the population in India still resides in rural areas and has no access or limited access to hospitals or clinics. Around 80 per cent of specialists serve in urban areas. The national norms for a three level rural primary healthcare system consisting of the Sub-Centre, Primary Health Centre and the Community Health Centre had evolved during the Sixth Five Year Plan and as a result, major expansion of rural healthcare infrastructure was seen during the Sixth and the Seventh Plans. The Eighth Plan focused on strengthening existing healthcare infrastructure to better the quality and the outreach services and the Ninth Plan improved upon the availability of primary healthcare facilities. Offering primary healthcare through mobile medical units is an innovative way to reach the rural and the vulnerable population.Rural population in India has major challenges with regards to access to consultation with the Qualified Doctor, as many of the rural doctors practice un-scientific healing methods, which sometimes can become fatal. Availability of facilities for Diagnosis, access to medicine and awareness of Good health practices are still a challenge.
MMU( Mobile Medical Units )s have merged as a panacea to provide quality healthcare with fastest turnaround time. MMUs have been successful in India, as they eliminate the need for the patient or beneficiary to travel to Healthcare facility, but instead MMU comes to nearest vicinity of the village providing much of the financial respite and physical comfort to the patients.
Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) under NHM, now encompassing both NRHM and NUHM is a key strategy to facilitate access to public health care particularly to people living in remote, difficult, under-served and unreached areas. In rural India, mobile medical clinics are useful models for delivering health promotion, education, and care. The objective of this strategy is to take healthcare to the doorstep of populations, particularly rural, vulnerable and under-served areas. This is not meant to transfer patients. MMU services are envisaged to meet the technical and service quality standards for a Primary health Centre. These services are provided free of cost through MMUs, besides enabling referrals. With five mobile medical units, the Buxar Mobile Medical Unit Programme under Chikitsa Chikitsak Apke Dwar is one of the largest health outreach programmes in the state of Bihar.
Mobile medical units are valuable in remote areas of Buxar, Dinara and Ramgarh where the population often has no other healthcare alternatives from qualified healthcare providers. CCAD have addressed this gap in the public health system by reaching out to these remote areas with limited facilities and manpower, and providing effective primary healthcare services at no cost to the people in these areas. The mobile units have reached out to villages and thousands of beneficiaries since the start of operations on 15th May-2021. Under the active guidance of Mr.Ashwini Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare , the programmes was launched on 15th May-2021 in the districts of Buxar Parliamentary Constituency for providing Quality Healthcare at the doorsteps of the Buxar Residents.
