The Hindu Business Line : Yashoda Hospitals plans mobile labs

As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Yashoda Group of Hospitals plans to launch sophisticated mobile diagnostic laboratories in rural Andhra Pradesh with an initial investment of around Rs 6 crore.

Three mobile diagnostic labs, each costing over Rs 2 crore, would be equipped with the latest equipment for X-ray, ultrasound, eco-cardiogram, treadmill test (TMT) and mammography tests among others.

Each mobile lab would be dedicated to a different region of the State — Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema respectively. The vans would also feature consultation rooms for cardiology and oncology, the Yashoda Group of Hospitals Director, Dr G. Surendar Rao, told newspersons here on Thursday.

"The idea is offer free diagnostic and consultancy services to the rural public at large in the next three years. The focus will be on two key therapeutic segments of cardiology and oncology. While the first mobile lab is ready to begin operation in the next fortnight, the other two mobile vans will be rolled out soon," Dr Rao said.

Joining hands with NGOs: The group plans to rope in local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct diagnostic and consultancy camps in the villages. Some diagnostic equipment manufacturers have also shown interest in the efforts, Dr Rao said.

Capacity expansion: Stating that the country's existing medical infrastructure and resources cannot address the growing incidence of lifestyle diseases, Dr Rao said the Yashoda group was considering a major expansion programme to double the number of beds to over 2,000 at its three centres in Somajiguda, Malakpet and Secunderabad.

Heart Walk on Sept 24: The group is organising `Hyderabad Heart Walk for a Healthy Heart' on the eve of World Heart Day on September 24.

The programme is aimed at creating awareness among the people about the prevention and control of heart diseases and help them achieve a happy and longer life, the Chief Cardiologist at Yashoda, Dr H.S. Somanath said.

More Stories on : Outlook | Medical Institutions & Hospitals | Andhra Pradesh

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