Coimbatore model: A role model for other medical colleges in India to start modern light weight artificial limb production centre without expenditure to government under Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

Abstract

Introduction: The Common locomotor disability in modern India is due to loss of limb. In India, Most of the people who have lost their limbs are from below poverty line. The primary aim is to start a modern lightweight artificial limb production centre with the available resources without expenditure to the government. Materials and Methods: The lightweight artificial limb production centre was established during Covid-19 pandemic in July 2020 at the Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Government Coimbatore medical College Hospital, Coimbatore without expenditure to the government. Result: The first transtibial light weight artificial limb prosthesis was fitted to a lady who had lost her limb due to diabetes mellitus on 15th august 2020 under AB PMJAY-TN CMCHIS. The modern light weight artificial limb production centre work was initiated and completed within 60 days during the Covid pandemic. Even during Covid pandemic, 45 beneficiaries enjoyed freedom of living on their own by the dedicated team work under AB-PMJAY. the Coimbatore model is profitable to the government institution. Discussion: Coimbatore is the first lightweight artificial limb production centre without expenditure to the government. The light weight artificial limb prosthesis package is available in AB-PMJAY. Hence the money is generated through their AB-PMJAY package. The generated money is not only useful for recurring expenditure but also used for infrastructure developments and repaying the money to start light weight artificial limb production centre. Conclusion: In Coimbatore model, the so-called expenditure concept is converted into money generation concept which is useful for infrastructure development of Government Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. Hence this model can be taken up as a profitable role model to start light weight artificial limb production centre in other government medical college hospitals in India without expenditure to the government.