The mobile health clinic managed by Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited has been operational since 2015. The objective was to take healthcare facilities to the doorstep of people who did not have easy access to a healthcare centre or a resident doctor. The Mobile Health Clinic has provided over 30,000 free medical consultation and free medicines for minor health conditions in villages and hamlets close to the Pune Plant.
Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the services of the MHC had to be temporarily stalled but the mobile van was put to good use between July 2020 and January 2021. The van was used by Karanjvihire Primary Healthcare centre to transport pregnant women from their homes to the healthcare centre for periodic check-up or to the hospital for deliveries during the lockdown. The primary healthcare centre was able to handle 34 cases of emergencies in remote villages, perform 5 deliveries in the van while the pregnant women were being shifted to hospitals, and shift 10 critical cases to the city from remote hilly areas.
Between March 2021 and February 2022, the Mobile Health Clinic staff supported Karanjvihire Primary Healthcare centre in the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in villages governed by 34 Gram Panchayats. The MHC staff handled registrations, inoculation, cold storage maintenance, and 30-minute patient monitoring.
Amidst the uncertainty that set in with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited decided to support medical infrastructure. Starting with a financial aid of INR 1 crore to enable Sassoon General Hospital to make their COVID-19 facility operational, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited swiftly delivered essential medical equipment and consumables to healthcare institutions and those working on the frontlines, including police personnel, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad), Mumbai, Pune, Beed and Dhule. Employees in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad) made over 15,000 face-shields for healthcare workers.
Taking cognizance of the hardship faced by daily-wage earners and students residing in paying guest accommodations and hostels during the lockdown, the company donated 50,000 food packets in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad) in association with the Annamrita Foundation, and grocery kits to low income households in Pune.
The company also imported some essential medical equipment through Volkswagen AG and Škoda Auto. The medical equipment included FFP3 respirators developed using a 3D printer by Škoda Auto in collaboration with the Czech Technical University in Prague. The Volkswagen Group and Škoda Auto donated Euro 1 million worth of essential equipment including oxygen generators, oxygen conservers and cylinders. Some of these equipment were donated in many different parts of the country. The oxygen generator was installed in ITBP Base Hospital, Delhi.
From the people, to the people
Not just the company, the employees of Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited contributed an additional INR 1.2 crore which was used for 15 full-featured ventilators, 15 monitors and 3,750 PPE kits for COVID-19 hospitals in Mumbai, Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad).
Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited also distributed 21 tonnes of dry ration to needy families in Khed and Bhosari villages in Maharashtra and has also donated additional essential medicines and critical medical equipment to Sassoon General Hospital (Pune), Mahalunge COVID Care Centre, Karanjvihire Primary Healthcare Centre and a few other institutions working on the frontlines .
Since 2018, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited has been making a grant to Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Prathishtan – a reputed hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad) to enable it to provide blood transfusion free of cost to children with thalassemia whose families are unable to afford regular blood transfusion.
With Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited’s support the Hospital arranges for blood bags through Dattaji Bhale Blood Bank for young patients from the weaker section of the society.
Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited employees in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad) also support by donating blood at least once a year.
In FY 2021-2022, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited committed to a 3 year support to Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research institute. The support comprises of donation of essential medical ancillaries and devices used for monitoring important parameters in children with Type 1 diabetes.
Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited’s support will enable HCJMRI to extend treatment and consultation to around 300 children.
In 2017, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited made a grant to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital for setting up a Centre for Pediatric Orthopedics called ‘Blooming Buds’. The grant enabled the hospital to procure state-of-the-art surgical equipment for performing complex surgeries to correct deformities in children in the age group 0-18 years. The surgeries help young children lead a normal life, join school, play, and pursue their extra-curricular activities.
In 2021, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited made a grant to Indrayani Hospital and Cancer Centre for equipment required in their new operation theatre. Indrayani Hospital is an initiative of Shree Narsimha Saraswati Medical Foundation, and was started in 2003. It is focused on prevention, early detection and treatment for patients from rural areas of Pune.
Patients from Ambegaon, Khed, Haveli, Pune City and other places avail of treatment at the hospital. The hospital has treated over 48,000 people for cancer in the last 5 years.
