After a successful launch in Maharashtra, where about 300 patients have benefitted from this campaign, till date, it is now time to benefit the senior citizens of Odisha. Now Walkfoundation has about 40 hospitals & 30 leading Joint Replacement Surgeons, who are associated with this campaign.
About 15 Patients who have already been identified for knee replacement surgery during the free knee treatment camp held at KIMS on 29th Dec. 2012, will have the great opportunity of getting the Surgery done by Padma Vibhushan Dr. K.H. Sancheti at the KIMS Hospital on Sunday the 6th January 2013, at unbelievably low costs, the heart of this campaign, to make affordability, which is of prime concern. Jt. Replacement Surgeon of KIMS Dr. Basant Kumar Behera, will be the 2nd Surgeon at this operative procedure.
Biorad has formed a division called WalkFoundation, a socio-economic division & have launched a campaign called “Chalna Hi Zindagi hai” Help@every step. Under this campaign, a consortium has been formed among stake holders like Biorad Medisys , Helpage and KIMS who have commonly agreed to bring down the cost to 80,000 in a General ward, which includes cost of Implant, cost of Medicines & Disposables required during the Surgery in the OT, Surgeons Charges, Anesthetist Charges & all Hospital Charges, like OT Charges, Bed Charges, Nursing Charges, Physiotherapy Charges, post-op X-Ray etc.
This consortium is being formed at all District Head Quarters of every state of India & Surgeries will be performed, accessing this high profile Surgery to the common old aged population, with a damaged knee. The fouth stake holder is the Bank. Selected Banks will be providing Loans to the Patients, who want to undergo this Surgery.
Biorad Medisys Pvt. Ltd. will soon commence a very specialised course, in association with reputed Universities, in Arthroscopy & Joint Replacement to increase the number of Orthopedic Surgeons, trained in this specialised Surgery.
During the launching ceremony, Padma Vibhusan Dr. K. H. Sancheti, Joint Replacemenr Syrgeon has said , “ An incapacitated damaged Knee, is a curse to the senior citizens. They completely loose their mobility & therefore are dependent on the family members, even for their daily chores. It is a fact that they appear to become a liability for the family. The awareness that, knee Surgery is the best option, is missing. Most patients get inclined to various other methods to relieve the pain by Pain Killers, usually steroids, which causes damage to the Kidney. A time therefore comes that, they need to decide, whether to treat the Kidney or the damaged knee. It is too late by then. It is therefore a serious crisis of the lack of awareness.”
Prof. U. N . Mishra, HOD, [Orthopedics] KIMS has said, “ Osteo Arthritis of the Knee is an endemic today. It has been observed that out of every 100 patients who require a knee replacement, only 8 undergo such Surgeries due to high costs. A Knee Surgery is now available in the Cities for approx 2 Lacs. About 50 of them might venture for surgery, if the costs are less .”
Dr. N. C Mahapatra, Joint Replacement Surgeon, Asso. Professor , SCB Medical College and Dr. Basant Kr. Behere , Joint Replacement Surgeon and Mr. Ashok Kumar Sen , Vice-President, Walkfoundation were present during the launching ceremony.
