Care Centre by Lotus Medical Foundation
This is a unique project by Lotus medical Foundation, a fully dedicated hospital for People Living with HIV (PLHIV). In 2007, we started our field activities and realised the need for Indoor Care for PLHIV. Very few Doctors were having updated knowledge of treatment of HIV and HAART (Highly Active Anti Retro Viral) medicines. Government was trying to provide these drugs free of the cost. PLHIV patients suffer from lots of opportunistic infections and drug side effects. Many come to hospital at late stage and have debility, psychologically depressed and have faced stigma and discrimination at home and many hospitals and in the society.
They were and are in need of holistic approach for HIV care. So we started exclusive HIV hospital with 12 beds capacity.
The Care Centre is Functional from June 2008 – No Stigma No Discrimination
Initially this was a12-bed hospital with a general ward and isolation room. In January 2017, it was expanded to a 15-bed hospital with 2 ICU beds, 2 family rooms, separate male and female general wards, isolation room and treatment room. The Care Centre now also houses a separate OPD complex and in-house pharmacy.
OPD services are free and IPD services are free to minimal charges. Patients are provided with nursing, food and medicines. Along with medical services, individual counseling, family counseling and social support are also offered. Relatives are educated about patient care. Around 5500 patients have taken benefit of the Centre till date. This is only hospital in Maharashtra exclusively serving HIV people.
From June 2008 to December 2013, NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) funded all the activities. After NACO stopped the funding, various donors were approached. In 2014, Vodafone Foundation, UK provided support. Currently the activities in the Care Centre are funded by various individual donors and minimal cost recovery from patients. In March 2019, LMF received an offer of support from IndusInd Bank Ltd that enables it to offer completely free treatment to large number of patients.
Care Centre for PLHIV- From June 2008
| Indicators | Achievements |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Patients Registered | 4035 |
| Total Number of Patients Admitted | 3276 |
| Total OPD Patient | 15953 |
Facilities Available
- Free OPD (out patient department) Services – Every Day Except Sunday Timing – From 11 am to 3 pm.
- IPD (in patient department) Services – 12 beds; Very Low Charges, Emergency Aadmission 24 Hours
- Treatment by HIV Physician
- Counseling and Advice for Patient and Care Takers
- Nutritional and Drug Adherence Counseling
- Subsidized Medicines
- Food for Indoor Patient
- Other Supportive Care and Advice
Care Centre Address
Lotus Medical Foundation
Sona Tower 102, B-1, Y.P. Pawar Nagar Chouk, Jawahar Nagar Road, Kolhapur-416 003
Phone No. 0231-2692411,