Ahmedabad: The Dhanvantari Raths of the civic body that were testing patients for cough, cold and fever will now also check patients for dengue and malaria.

Rajiv Gupta, ACS, forest and environment, and overall in-charge of Covid control in Ahmedabad said, “AMC has deployed 120 Dhanvantari Raths across the city. These vans have successfully conducted over 4.27 lakh OPD consultations. The intervention has helped to successfully treat over 20,143 patients with fever, over 74,048 with cough and cold and another 462 patients with severe respiratory tract infections were referred to urban health centres and hospitals for clinical treatment. The vans also referred 826 patients with hypertension, diabetes and other co-morbidities for clinical treatment at nearby urban health centres, community health centres, and hospitals.”

Gupta said that the scope of health services of mobile medical vans has been extended to include malaria and dengue tests and this was done in view of the monsoon season and the likelihood of increase in vector-borne diseases.

During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Dhanvantari Raths, (mobile vans carrying medics and medical equipment) were launched to provide non-Covid essential healthcare services to the doorsteps of citizens.
Gupta said the move was required as a majority of the hospitals were engaged in Covid-19 treatment. These vans carry an Ayush Doctor, paramedic and nursing staff along with local medical officer from urban health centres of AMC. These mobile medical vans were equipped with all essential medicines including ayurvedic & homeopathic medicines, vitamin supplements, basic testing equipment like Pulse Oxymeter, said Gupta.