Ranchi, Dec. 9: Where doctors cannot go, but arogya gram sevaks can.

Seeing the difficulties that doctors face in reaching remote rural areas, Rinchi Trust Hospital, Ranchi, with help from the state's welfare department, has decided to start a medical advice support system through trained paramedics in around 200 villages of Dumka and Khunti.

The first-of-its-kind service called Chikitsa Aapke Dwar will be launched on Sunday by state welfare minister Louis Marandi at Rinchi hospital, where 40 paramedics, to be known as arogya gram sevaks, will receive medical kit for emergency health relief. The minister will also release a book Where Doctors Do Not Go, which will act as a guide for the paramedics.

Noted paediatrician Dr O.P. Mahansaria, chairman of the hospital who is closely associated with the project, said: "There are many hard-to-reach areas, where people fail to get timely medical intervention because of the huge distance from health centres or due to lack of awareness. Our trained paramedics will visit such places and act as a bridge between the patient and the health centre. They will communicate with the doctor, take the patient to the health centre and if not advised hospitalisation, give medicines to the patient after consulting the doctor (over phone). The treatment will be free of cost."

He added that 40 paramedics had been trained for three months to identify various ailments.

The social welfare department is supporting the project by giving the nod to use infrastructure of Micro Economic Social Organisation (MESO) hospitals and ambulances.

"Initially, we will offer this health facility in Kathikund in Dumka and Arki in Khunti and later extend the services to Jonha in Ranchi and Littipara in Pakur. The paramedics will be paid by Rinchi Trust and the patients will not have to bear any cost. Later on, the paramedics will be provided with an App that will help them gauge, based on symptoms narrated by patients, the seriousness of a medical case and accordingly, take action," Mahansaria added.