OREANDA-NEWS. January 23, 2012. Indian Oil Corporation’s (IndianOil) Rural Mobile Health Scheme (Sachal Swasthya Seva), launched as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda, was formally inaugurated on all-India basis today by Shri S Jaipal Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India at Nagaram Village in Maheswaram Mandal of Ranga Reddy District. Smt. P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, Hon’ble Minister for Home & Jails, Fire Services, Government of Andhra Pradesh, was the Guest of Honour.

IndianOil’s novel primary health care initiative will mainly focus on villages around its Kisan Seva Kendra (KSK) outlets, which are primarily low-cost petrol & diesel stations set up in rural areas. A network of 40 mobile medical units (MMU), stationed one each at a KSK outlet, will extend free health check-up and free medicines to the villagers in the areas. Each MMU team will comprise a registered qualified doctor (MBBS), a pharmacist (D.Pharama), a community mobiliser and a driver. Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala, CEO & Inspiration, Wockhardt Foundation said, “Our partnership with IndianOil provides us with a like-minded partner to provide mobile healthcare solutions across Andhra Pradesh. Over the next one year, we aim to further expand this programme across other states of the country.”

Each MMU team will visit two to three villages per day over a six-day week, and will cover all the designated villages in their respective areas once a week on a fixed day and at a fixed time intimated locally. Being implemented with support from Wockhardt Foundation, the scheme will also be utilised for health awareness programmes and information, education and communication campaigns on family planning, health & hygiene, HIV/AIDS, etc.

Addressing the gathering after formally launching the rural mobile health care scheme, Shri Jaipal Reddy complimented IndianOil for its noble initiative in taking primary healthcare to the doorsteps of the villagers in areas where primary medicare facilities need further augmentation. He said that IndianOil’s Kisan Seva Kendra (KSK) outlets – over 4,000 of them are already operating across the country – are not only reaching precious petroleum fuels closest to the customers in the rural hinterland but are also acting as one-stop convenience shops for farmers and villages by stocking items of daily use. By focussing on over 600 villages around 40 select KSK outlets in 10 districts of the State, the mobile medicare scheme will be of immense benefit to the rural population in availing of free health check-up and medicines by qualified doctors and pharmacists at their doorstep, he added.

Smt. P. Sabitha Indra Reddy, Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh, who also spoke on the occasion, hoped that the new mobile health care scheme launched by IndianOil at the beginning of the new year will go a long way in creating the much-needed awareness among the people in the remote villages on issues related to health, hygiene, family planning and HIV/AIDS. Thanking IndianOil for making the all-India launch of the scheme from Nagaram village, she hoped IndianOil will further expand its concept of KSK outlets in the rural heartland of the country so that more and more people in the villages can avail of the value-added services and facilities from the countrywide retail network of the Corporation.

Shri RS Butola, Chairman, IndianOil, said that IndianOil has plans to expand the scheme on an all-India basis. Based on the experience gained in AP, the Corporation will further fine-tune the scheme and also extend it to other States over the next three to four years. He said that IndianOil’s CSR agenda has been focussing on primary health care, education and potable water with special emphasis on under-privileged beneficiaries in rural areas.

Emphasising that IndianOil is proud to serve millions of people everyday by reaching precious petroleum products to every nook and corner of the nation through its countrywide infrastructure and marketing network, he said that the Kisan Seva Kendra concept itself evolved in support of the national agenda for inclusive growth, taking into consideration the unique needs of the people in rural and by offering additional benefits and value-added service, besides petroleum fuels.

Earlier, Mr. Sudhir Bhalla, Director (HR), IndianOil, welcomed the gathering. Mr. PM Nazeerudeen, IndianOil’s Executive Director, AP State Office, proposed the vote of thanks.