Seth GS Medical College, KEM, &  Piramal Foundation Collaborate to Improve Healthcare in Maharashtra's Aspirational Districts

The primary objective of the collaboration, delineated in a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is to improve the well-being of the tribal populace, primarily focusing on the Palghar district, which houses over 68% of the tribal community.

Seth GS Medical College, KEM Hospital, and the Piramal Foundation, in collaboration with the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has undertaken an initiative to address healthcare needs in Maharashtra’s aspirational districts.

The primary objective of the collaboration, delineated in a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to improve the well-being of the tribal populace, primarily focusing on the Palghar district, which houses over 68% of the tribal community.

The long-term goal included the expansion of these initiatives to other districts. Also, the initiative addressed critical health indicators, including malnutrition, maternal and child health, anemia, and tuberculosis, affecting tribal populations. This collaborative effort bolstered disease management by focusing on therapeutic and preventive measures.

Commenting on the same, Dr Swati Piramal, vice chairperson of the Piramal Group, said, "Through this formal partnership, our aim is to improve healthcare services and demonstrate our commitment to creating a positive impact in underserved areas."

The partnership involved KEM Hospital providing technical support to the Piramal Foundation, especially under its Aspirational Bharat Collaborative program. The support included teleconsultation diagnostic aid and capacity-building training for frontline health workers in targeted districts.

The program also intended to enhance healthcare capabilities by conducting training workshops for district-level health staff, tribal healers, and medical student volunteers, equipping them to handle various health issues effectively.

Commenting on the same, Dr Sangeeta Ravat, dean of KEM Hospital & Seth G S Medical College, said, "This partnership signifies a transformative path for healthcare, a convergence of expertise and resources with the common goal of improving health outcomes in underserved districts."

Furthermore, the initiative acknowledged the pivotal role of tribal healers in these communities by providing them with training in primary healthcare.

Recognising the significant role of tribal healers in these communities, the initiative provided them with primary healthcare training. Additionally, it included a plan to create a curriculum for medical students to engage in volunteer work, learning, and teaching in the Aspirational Districts of Maharashtra.

In a separate effort to enhance health facilities for tribal communities, drone delivery startup TechEagle partnered with AIIMS Jodhpur in September to deliver vital medical supplies in the tribal communities of Sirohi, Rajasthan. The objective was to ensure affordable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare for these underserved populations.