The Lifeline Express, or Jeevan Rekha Express, is a hospital train that runs in India that started running on 16 July 1991. It was a collaboration between the Impact India Foundation, Indian Railways and the Health Ministry. The train is funded by IIF, international charitable sources, Indian corporations and individuals. The train has made a health impact both in India, as well as around the world where it has inspired similar initiatives.
Objective
The Lifeline Express was started to provide on-the-spot diagnostic, medical and advanced surgical treatment for preventive and curative interventions for disabled adults and children. It is an outreach program for inaccessible rural areas where medical services are not available, traveling via Indian Railways. In addition to providing access to these much needed services, the Lifeline express seeks to improve the efficiency of the existing local government and voluntary health infrastructure and services, as well as providing initiative and encouragement for the local bodies to get involved in all aspects of the programme and provide follow-up services after the train has left.
History
The Lifeline Express went on its maiden journey on 16 July 1991. Three coaches were donated by IR, and the equipment from Impact India Foundation. Impact India Foundation is the Indian branch of a non-profit organisation based in seven countries around the world, with its Indian headquarters in Mumbai. Impact India still runs the trains with help from IR and corporate and private donors. After 16 years of work from the Lifeline Express, IR provided the Lifeline Express with five new coaches, for the new and improved Jeevan Rekha Express. There was just one operation theater in the old one; however according to the CEO of the Lifeline Express Dr. Rajnish Gourh the operation theatres would be doubled now. The rest of the setup remains same. Indian Railways built upon its experience operating the Lifeline Express during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, when it converted sleeper cars into isolation wards for coronavirus patients.
Services
The Lifeline Express provides a number of medical services including
Orthopaedic surgical intervention for correction of handicap and restoration of movement, especially those as a result of polio, congenital deformity like club foot & cerebral palsy.
Ophthalmological procedures and interventions, e.g. cataract surgery including phaco method and power glasses distribution after establishing the need of partially blind patients.
Surgical interventions for conductive deformity of middle ear for restoration of hearing & Audiometry for restoring hearing of sensory deaf patients.
Plastic Surgical correction of Cleft Lip and post burn contractures.
Epilepsy - Screening and treatment clinic run by an Epileptologist along with counselling and education about epilepsy given by Epilepsy counsellors
Counselling and referral services.
Liaison with local health authorities and follow-up.
Immunisations and other preventive measures.
Nutritional assessment and services.
Promotion of Health awareness among the deprived in the neglected rural and semi-urban areas
Providing training to medical and allied-health professionals and other voluntary personnel in surgical procedures, medical and health issues for work in unique field situations.
The train visits different parts of the country, usually rural areas with insufficient Health Care facilities, or areas hit by natural disasters, etc., and stays in each place for 21 to 25 days while medical care is provided to the local people. The train which was started in 1991 is still operating.
Facilities
The Lifeline Express train is formed of specially-designed air-conditioned coaches. In 2007 Indian Railways provided five new coaches for the service. The first coach is a power car which also has a staff compartment and pantry area. The staff compartment is situated at the rear with a 12-berth staff-quarter, kitchen unit, water purifier, a gas stove and electric oven and refrigerator. The second coach consists of the medical store, as well as two autoclave units. It also houses a drawing room. The train has a main Operation Theatre with three operating tables and a second self-contained operating theatre with two tables. In the main theatre, each table has its own set of anesthetic equipment, shadow lights, Boyles apparatus with Halothane vapourisers and imported Carl Zeiss microscope, multi-purpose monitor, defibrillator, diathermy cautery machine, anesthesia ventilator. The theatres are equipped with a closed circuit television camera which is used in providing training to local doctors in live surgical procedures. An attached six bed recovery room is situated beside the main theatre. Additionally, the train has an ophthalmologic testing room, a dental unit, a laboratory, an X-ray unit and an auditorium with a large LCD display unit. The train also has a public address system and closed-circuit TV.
