Success-Stories-on-Health-Sector

anDHra PraDEsH
E-uPHC
ProblEm statEmEnt
The increasing concentrations of population in slums
and urban poverty have elicited a strong interest in
urban health conditions in general, and the health of slum
dwellers and the urban poor, in particular. generally,
UPHCs are limited to primary healthcare, but due to the
poor health-seeking behaviour of people, services beyond
primary healthcare are required in the UPHCs. Poverty
also plays a role in the poor-health seeking behaviour
due to the non-availability of diagnostic services
at UPHCs.
ProgrammE DEsCriPtion
e-UPHC is a PPP model of government and private
organisation (e-Vaidya) collaboratively working to
implement the NUHM with focus on equitable health
accessibility to the urban slum and vulnerable population
using technology as a catalyst. This project was piloted
for three months in Vijayawada city of Andhra Pradesh
from January to March 2015 for a population of 50,000.
Like any UPHC, the e-UPHC has a medical doctor, an
ANM and AASHA workers and other medical staff.
However, the uniqueness of the project is that 24 types
of diagnostics are provided at the centre and specialized
medical care is provided through tele-calling with a
panel of specialist doctors. Medication is prescribed
online and advanced cases are referred to secondary and
tertiary level hospitals. The follow-up of the cases is done
periodically through the outreach staff, and the medical
and health status of the beneficiaries is also tracked. The
organisation has a robust iT platform to track all services
provided by the e-UPHC.
Performance of e-UPHC (January – March 2015)
Services Jan feb Mar
OPD Patients Treated 1089 771 623
Male 834 416 329
Female 255 355 294
Children Below 15 years 70 35 14
Boys 39 17 9
girls 31 18 5
Old Patients 192 175 186
Male 121 95 103
Female 71 80 83
new Patients 897 596 437
Male 713 321 226
Female 184 275 211
Diseases 1089 771 623
Communicable Diseases 54 47 31
non-Communicable Diseases 510 345 321
Other Diseases 525 379 271
Source: e-Vaidya MIS records.
Evaluation
Review meetings are held every fortnight, to get an update
on the progress of the programme, identify gaps and for
making strategic plans accordingly. Since the project was
a pilot, an internal evaluation was conducted by NUHM
that identified best practices and gaps which in-turn helps
in modifying the programme strategies.
FinanCial invEstmEnt
Initially the e-Vaidya organisation has submitted a
Techno-commercial proposal for an amount of Rs. 1,88,000
per month towards operational costs including online
Doctor services, Paramedics and other necessary staff
alongwith diagnostics and health record maintenance
of the equipment, technology and man power. Further,
this amount does not include medicines and diagnostic
consumables. The organisation has capital equipment
worth Rs. 8,00,000.
sCalabilitY
The innovative, cost-effective and result-oriented
initiation has got a very good response and demand
from the community, political segment and Municipality
management. This model can be extended to least one
centre per ULB.
ConClusions/lEssons lEarnt
as diagnostic services and specialised healthcare
facilities are provided under one roof at the e-UPHC,
there is scope for the betterment of the health-seeking
behaviour and health of the urban poor and the
vulnerable. Especially, through diagnostic services, the
health of antenatal patients, newborn and infants could
be improved thereby contributing in the reduction of
iMR and MMR. Diagnosis of specialised healthcare
needs like cardiac, ortho, pulmonary health issues
also helps in reaching the poorest of the poor in the
urban slums.
rEFErEnCEs
1. http://www.rchiips.org/nfhs/urban_health_report_
for_website_18sep09.pdf.
2. http://www.rchiips.org/nfhs/urban_health_report_
for_website_18sep09.pdf.
3. World Health Organization. The World Health Report
2000 – Health Systems: Improving Performance.
geneva: WHO,2000.
Contact
State Programme Manager
Email: apnuhm@gmail.com
154 | Making a Difference : good, Replicable and innovative Practices