Mumbai: For the poorest among the poor disabled people in rural India, for whom specialised medical treatment is unheard of, the Lifeline Express, the first hospital on a train, has been a saviour in providing the latest in health services.

The train, also known as the Magic Train of India, is now at the Chhatrapati Shivaj Terminus where it was inaugurated on platform number 10 for three days of public viewing to showcase the hospital and also let people know of the work done by medical teams on board the Lifeline Express.

The train is run by Impact India Foundation (IIF), an international initiative against avoidable disablement in coordination with Indian Railways.

“IIF will soon launch a cancer detection and control programme and Lifeline Express will be equipped with the latest machinery for early detection of breast and cervical cancer,” said Zelma Lazarus, CEO, IIF, after the inauguration by Sunil Kumar Sood, General Manager, Central Railway.

Lazarus said, “This exemplary project has since 1991 provided medical services to nearly 900,000 disabled poor in remote rural locations across India. The services include surgeries for the restoration of sight, movement, hearing, correction of facial deformities and prevention and treatment of epilepsy and dental problems — all free of cost, made possible by the ‘donated’ services of about 150,000 medical professionals in India and abroad.”

Dr Rajneesh, CEO of Lifeline Express, a specialist in public health, says, he was drawn to this hospital on the train since “I could serve my nation in a substantial manner as it reaches out to the rural poor in remote areas. What is so unusual is that the entire process of treatment is free of cost — right from the consultation, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, medication, food, accommodation and follow-up.”

The train itself has five coaches, including two that serve as operation theatres, where surgeries can be conducted on five patients simultaneously, a sitting room for doctors, paramedics and technicians, recovery room and a sterilisation area. Procedures performed include cataracts, middle ear surgery and plastic surgery for cleft lip and post burn contractures, said Gourh. Around 600 surgeries are conducted during every project.

With 10 projects, each lasting 25 days, the hospital on rails is busy covering little towns located in the interior, where preparations are done a month before arrival so that people can first screen themselves for any problem at the primary health centres where patients are shortlisted.

Lifeline Express depends on a large extent on sponsors, particularly local ones. From March 2-24 2014, the train was at Guna, Madhya Pradesh where the sponsor was Shreemanat Madhavrao Scindia Seva Mission.

From Mumbai, the train will proceed to Baidyanath Junction where it will stop over from May 29 to June 20 where The Salman Khan Foundation is the sponsor.

Other sponsors during 2014 include Impact UK in Chhindwara in M.P., Emirates Airlines Foundation in Talgappa, Shimoga, Karnataka and the Tata Steel Rural Development Society in Odisha.