AyurVAID
Comprehensive Care for Chronic Diseases
Kerala First Health Services brings traditional medicine to the poor through its AyurVAID chain.
SNAPSHOT
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AyurVAID is increasing both the quality and accessibility of treatment available to low-income communities in India. Chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and arthritis are treated through what has become the largest chain of Ayurveda hospitals in the country.
The Challenge
- In India, 12 million deaths a year are associated with chronic diseases. Low-income families are disproportionately affected due to the lack of affordable treatment and preventive care. Treating chronic disease drains away resources and affects the ability to earn livelihoods, creating a downward spiral of disease and poverty.
- The Ayurveda system of traditional medicine is for many the first choice for healthcare. Ayurveda physicians undergo rigorous five-year education programs that include detailed study of the classical Ayurveda medical science as well as the essentials of modern medicine, surgery and pharmacology. Despite demand for their services, a lack of health infrastructure means the qualified and government-accredited Ayurveda physicians are underutilized.
The Innovation
- Kerala First Healthcare Services has pioneered a successful model of AyurVAID hospitals integrating classical Ayurveda practice with modern allopathic practice to treat chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and stroke.
- AyurVAID is patient-centric and uses standardized processes to deliver safe, effective and affordable care to poor communities. Its delivery model allows for cross-subsidization by serving high-end patients as well as low-income patients. AyurVAID has also introduced a low-cost hospital format called AyurSEVA, located in poor communities such as Dharavi, a slum of Mumbai.
The Impact
- AyurVAID has established five hospitals (sized 15-30 beds) in four states across the country. Through its low-cost and cross-subsidy models, as well as via partnerships with leading insurance players, AyurVAID is bringing affordable services to low-income communities and increasing the quality and the accessibility of treatment available.
- AyurVAID hospitals are the only Ayurveda hospitals accredited by 12 of India's leading medical insurance service providers. And AyurVAID’s hospital in Bangalore is the first and only Ayurveda hospital to be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers.