by Dr Sunil Chandy, Cardiologist and Former Director of CMC Vellore.
Hospitals are becoming increasingly inaccessible, unaffordable, and difficult places to be. On the other hand, illnesses are surging exponentially. The occurrence of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attacks in young individuals is rising markedly. As #healthcare is gradually moving out of hospitals and into homes and workplaces, I have sketched an idea that can potentially take primary level care to the streets.
This initiative will help ordinary people access primary health as part of their daily routine. While refuelling their vehicles, individuals can take just an extra five minutes for a rapid health check-up: pulse, blood pressure, blood sugar, height, weight, and BMI—all for a token fee. This process aims to create awareness of health parameters and may also identify illnesses previously unknown to them.
This unique, low-cost, and effective social innovation could place #Vellore on the health map of India.
I am happy to provide detailed mechanics of this initiative if the #VRZ organizers are keen to pursue the idea. This initiative is my intellectual property and I can share the details only with a non-disclosure agreement.
The traffic police are overwhelmed by the volume of traffic, vehicles, and people. They do not seem empowered or effective in controlling violations, even when they are gross and life-threatening. One idea would be to have the police department certify chosen citizens to be traffic wardens with the authority to intervene in daily traffic violations. Like the Sheriff’s Badge in the US, a badge and a sticker for their vehicles for credibility should be issued. When they drive and see someone coming from the wrong side, bikers riding with cell phones, or one biker leg-pushing another forward, this citizen can, with badge empowerment, step out to stop the traffic and address the violation. The civil administration must be willing to do this for the benefit of law enforcement. Creating this system and publicising it on city forums will help mitigate the frequency and number of violations.
#PrimaryHealthcare #Traffic #vrz #Ranipet #Vellore #vrzcommunity #communityhealth #communitywellbeing
Dr. Sunil Chandy is the former Director of Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore. He is a long-time resident of Vellore, having been both a student and staff member of the prestigious CMC and Hospital. In addition to being a medical cardiologist, he is a qualified administrator and healthcare leader.
Dr. Chandy served as Deputy Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal before becoming the Director of CMC, a role he held for five years. During his tenure, he was primarily responsible for the 1,700-bed hospital in Ranipet, Vellore. He actively writes on healthcare and leadership issues in leading newspapers and on social media.
Currently, he is the Medical Director for a large corporate organization and serves as Co-Chair of the CII Public Health Council and as a member of the NASSCOM Health-Tech Forum. Dr. Chandy is a permanent resident of Vellore with his family.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. Readers are encouraged to consider the information presented and form their own opinions.
