Lifeline Express upgraded with two new coaches; to start tour soon

India's hospital-train – Lifeline Express - that travels around the country providing health care to rural areas has been upgraded with two additional coaches equipped to provide treatment for cancer patients and is ready for a fresh tour around the country.

The new coaches on the 'Lifeline Express' will provide both cancer care and family health services.

''The additional coaches to the already existing five-coach hospital train 'Lifeline Express' will be used for detection and control of oral, breast and cervical cancer, and prevention of stroke and for family health services,'' an official release stated.

Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and minister of railways Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the upgraded train at the New Delhi railway station.

The upgraded Lifeline Express will leave from New Delhi to Satna in Madhya Pradesh later this month, where it will be stationed till 5 January to treat patients. From there, the moving hospital will go on to make pit stops in Telangana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and other locations.

The additional coaches will be used for detection and control of oral, breast, and cervical cancer, and prevention of stroke as well as for family health services.

At the event Nadda said, "This initiative will help reach out to the rural areas with insufficient medical facilities, or areas hit by natural disasters, etc. The train will stay in each place for several days while medical care - routine as well as major surgery - is provided to the locals."

Three fully-equipped operation theatres will be available for free-of-cost services. Restorative surgeries for sight, hearing, clefts, burn contractures and orthopaedic impairment, treatments for epilepsy and dental problems are all offered on the train.

An estimated 10,000 persons are expected to benefit at each halt. Close to 10 lakh patients have been treated on the train at 177 locations across India so far. Over one lakh surgeries for restoration of mobility, vision, hearing and correction of facial deformities have been performed.

Health minister J P Nadda said the initiative will help in reaching out to the unreached areas of the country, usually rural areas with insufficient medical facilities, or areas hit by natural disasters, etc.

The train will stay in each place for several days while medical care (routine as well as major surgery) is provided to the local people.

''I thank Indian railways for this approach as we gave to provide health services wherever possible, especially in the inaccessible places where the train can go,'' Nadda elaborated.

These additional services will be provided to augment the existing restorative surgeries conducted for sight, hearing, clefts, burn contractures and orthopaedic impairment, and treatment of epilepsy and dental problems on the Lifeline Express.

Three fully equipped operation theatres will be available for free-of-cost services to the rural poor across the country. A total of 10,000 persons will benefit at each project location.

The augmented seven-coach Lifeline Express will commence its 178th Lifeline Express project at Satna, in Madhya Pradesh (MP) from 15 December 2016 till 5 January 2017. Other LLE projects in 2017 will be at Telangana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, MP, Gujarat and other locations.

This is a unique project which has so far medically treated over one million disabled poor in rural India, all free of cost, made possible with the 'donated' services of over 200,000 medical professionals from around the world.

At 177 projects across India, the Lifeline Express has performed more than one lakh surgeries for restoration of mobility, vision, hearing and correction of facial deformities. The Lifeline Express has also provided treatment for epilepsy and dental ailments.

The Lifeline Express known worldwide as the ''Magic Train of India'' has been the model for several countries to replicate this unique project with Hospital Trains and River Boat Hospitals.