A REGISTERED PUBLIC TRUST FOR THE PREVENTION AND CURE OF DISABLEMENT

Established by the United Nations and launched by the Government of India

Donations Exempted from Income Tax: 50% u/s 80-G of I.T.A.

IMPACT INDIA FOUNDATION’S

LIFELINE EXPRESS - THE WORLD’S FIRST HOSPITAL TRAIN
More than 1.2 million medically served since 1991

The seven-coach Lifeline Express

Background:
Impact India Foundation (IIF), an International Initiative Against Avoidable Disablement, established
through a United Nations’ General Assembly Resolution, was launched by the Government of
India on October 2nd, 1983 - the Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This marked the beginning
of an extraordinary initiative based on a rather ordinary observation: While physical disability
remains one of India’s greatest problems (estimated 70 million) the majority of disablement is easily
reversible and preventable.
Continued on Page 2

Trustees: R.C.Sarin – Chairman, J.K.Banthia – Vice-Chairman,

Dr. (Mrs.) P.J.Godrej, Anil K. Shastri, Samir Shah, Prof. (Dr.) Rohini Chowgule, Carlton Pereira
Advisors: Y.H. Malegam, Peter Hassan
Medical Advisory Board: Dr. Ninad Gaikwad, Dr. Kulin Kothari, Dr. Taral Nagda, Dr. Mansing G. Pawar,
Dr.(Ms.)Vinita Puri, Prof. R. Rangasayee, Dr.(Ms) G.Subbulakshmi, Dr.(Ms.)Minnie Bodhanwala,
Prof.(Dr.) Rohini Chowgule,
Dr. Roop Gursahani, Prof. Pankaj Chaturvedi
Founder Director & CEO: Ms. Zelma Lazarus

Nhava House, 65 Maharshi Karve Road, Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 002, India. Web :
www.impactindia.orgTel: (91-22) 6633 9605 / 6 / 7 Fax: (91-22) 2201 0594 E-
Mail: info@impactindia.org
Successful interventions to prevent and cure these problems would dramatically decrease disability,
thereby improving the quality of life nationwide. Acknowledgement of these simple facts led to the
establishment of “Impact”, a worldwide movement against avoidable disability. Today, Impact is
active in fourteen countries under the banner of the International Federation of Impact
Organisations (IFIO).

Impact India Foundation: is a Charitable Trust registered (E-9792) with the Charity Commissioner
Bombay on 16th March 1984. Its mission is to reduce disability through cure and prevention
amongst the rural unreached population of India.
IIF’s aim is to act in partnership with the Government as a catalyst bringing together the corporate
sector, Non Profit Organisations, professionals and the community in mass health projects of
National priority, using existing delivery systems and available infrastructure. The Lifeline Express
“the world’s first state-of-the-art hospital on a train” represents mainly the curative aspect of IIF’s
mandate.

The Lifeline Express (LLE):

The hospital train which reaches those who cannot reach a hospital, bringing modern medical care
to under-served rural and Tribal areas, was launched on July 16, 1991 in partnership with the Indian
Railways.

The seven coaches of the Lifeline Express contain two Operation Theatres with state- of-the-art
equipment for the conduct of surgeries for Cataracts, Hearing, Orthopaedic impairment and Cleft
Lips. Treatment for Epilepsy and Dental problems is also given. Screening for Oral, Breast & Cervical
Cancer have been recently introduced. Since 1991 IIF has a MoU with the Indian Railways which has
donated the coaches.

The Magic Train of India – Jeevan Rekha Express

2
The Lifeline Express is a recipient of numerous accolades including the United Nations’ Grand
Award for Excellence in Public Service. The Government of India has honoured the Lifeline Express
with the release of a National Postage stamp. Four Lifeline Express trains in China, two in South
Africa and Riverboat hospitals in Bangladesh and Cambodia have replicated this innovative
programme.

The National Postage Stamp issued by the Government of India in 2009

Introduction of Cancer and Family Health Services:

Two additional coaches recently donated by the Indian Railways serve to augment the LLE’s
delivery of public health services with the Prevention and Control of Oral, Breast & Cervical Cancer,
Family Health, and the Testing of Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar. The refurbished seven-coach
train has two Operation Theatres (with a total of 5 Operating Tables) and Recovery Rooms. An
estimated 6,000 persons are served at each of the ten/eleven locations every year.The significance
of the Lifeline Express- is underscored by the fact that more than half of India’s public hospitals,
especially in remote areas, lack basic surgical facilities required to treat the burden of disease.
These areas are in dire need of the services of quality doctors / surgeons. To quote from the
Government of India Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s ‘Situational Analyses - Backdrop to the
National Health Policy 2017’: “Over 63 million Indians are pushed to poverty every year due to
health care costs”

The LLE’s USP:

IIF brings the best surgeons and doctors from all over the country to offer quality treatment and
volunteer “seva” on the LLE. By capitalizing on one of the world’s largest railway networks, the
partnership between the Indian Railways and IIF offers a unique platform through the Lifeline
Express, for delivery of free-of-cost quality facilities and services to the rural disabled poor of our
country. These include:
A. Five Operating Theatres equipped with world class, excellent medical instruments and
equipment such as Draeger Anaesthethesia work stations, CarlZeiss operating microscopes,
Phaco machine, Boyle’s Apparatus etc.
B. Cancer investigations and preventive health services. This is in addition to restorative
surgeries for Vision, Hearing, Clefts, Orthopaedic and the treatment of Neurological
(Epilepsy), Dental and Gynaecological problems.

3
 C. Medical Specialists volunteer their services.
D. Meticulous advance planning with the District Administration, CBOs, grass-root health
workers and volunteers ensures patient mobilization and access.
E. Hands-on-training conducted for local medical, paramedics and healthcare professionals,
helps to identify patients for treatment and ensure their post- operative follow-up.
IIF’s partners:
Corporate houses, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Foundations and philanthropists provide
support at each, under-served location and in the Aspirational Districts. Donations to IIF are 50%
exempt from Income Tax u/s 80G of the ITA.

Treatment on the LLE:

The following types of corrective surgeries, Specialist medical services and health education are
provided on the Lifeline Express to about 6000 rural poor, at each project location:

1. Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeries: Correction of post-Polio contractures, correction of Club-

Foot deformities, in upper and lower limbs, generally up to the age of 15 years. About 100
cases are screened, counselled and 15 operated.
2. Ophthalmic surgeries: Cataracts, Intra Ocular Lens implants. About 1000 are screened and
300 operated. Patients suffering from refractive errors are given Spectacles by a team of
Optometrists who screen them.
3. Middle Ear surgeries: Tympanoplasty / Myringoplasty /Mastoid surgeries. About 400
screened and 50 operated. Patients whose hearing can be improved by using Hearing Aids
undergo Audiometry before receiving them.
4. Plastic surgeries: Cleft Lips, Burn contracture release, and tongue-tie release. About 30
screened and 10 operated.
5. Gynaecological & Cancer: About 350 females are screened for Breast & Cervical Cancer,
Counselled on Spacing of Births. Oral Cancer screening is also conducted.
6. Dental and Oral Health Hygiene services: Scaling, Filling and Extractions. About 800
are examined and 100 undergo procedures.
7. Epilepsy treatment. Patients suffering from Neurological disorders like Epilepsy are treated,
counselled and educated on how to reduce the risk of convulsions. About 75 are treated and
given medication sufficient for 3 months.
8. Medical Devices (Aids & Appliances): Hearing Aids, Spectacles, Calipers, Splints, etc are
donated to the needy. About 1000 units are distributed at each project location.
9. Testing of Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar: About 800 have their Blood Pressure checked.
Those found to be at risk are counselled and referred to the local health department.

4
 10.Outreach services: About 1000 grassroots’ health workers, NGO representatives, and
patients in the LLE’s Out Patient Department (OPD) are sensitised on the symptoms relating
to Cancer, Epilepsy and Dental hygiene. Health Education on Oral Health & Hygiene is given
to teachers and students oflocal schools.
11.Workshops / Continuing Medical Education (CME) / Seminars conducted for Doctors on
Epilepsy /Cancer care & treatment.

The Lifeline Express is listed as a National Resource by the NDMA (National Disaster Management
Authority) for deployment during disasters/natural calamities.

Project Locations and Beneficiaries:

Need Assessment of project locations is carried out in advance by IIF to justify the requirement for a
Lifeline Express project which includes disability data, availability of a railway station siding and
other infrastructure related logistics The beneficiaries are the needy, disabled poor people of India,
Below the Poverty Line families inhabiting remote rural areas, where medical services are scarce. IIF
does not discriminate in terms of gender, caste, race, religion, community or ethnicity. All are
welcome.

Physical Layout of the Lifeline Express’ Seven coaches:

The customization into a hospital of the seven coaches, donated by the Indian Railways to IIF, took
place at the Integrated Coach Factory (ICF), Perambur, Tamil Nadu and at the Central Railway
Workshop at Matunga in Mumbai where the Periodic Overhaul takes place.

1stCoach (CR-07891):
The Utilities coach at the front end is equipped with two powerful Diesel Generating Sets (200 KVA
and 440 V each). Each set is capable of meeting the total requirement of power on the train and at
the project site. Provision is made to connect the train to an external power supply source. This
coach also contains:
Non Air-Conditioned (AC) living accommodation for the train staff consisting of6 berths. IIF
has fitted a two- ton split AC for the comfort of LLE Staff.
Toilets for the train staff.
A well-furnished kitchen.
A cabin for storage of L.P.G. cylinders.
A guard room as required by Railway regulations during LLE movement.

5
2ndCoach (CR-07888):
The second coach has the following compartments:
A sitting lounge/living area for officials, surgeons and para-medical staff.
A changing room for Doctors/ para-medical staff prior to surgery
An office dedicated to matters of administration
A Sterilisation area, which has two Autoclaves for sterilizing all equipment,linen and
instruments required for surgery.

3rdCoach (CR-07889):
The 1stOperation Theatre - considered the heart of the LLE - consists of:
The scrub area and an AC panel.
The Operation Theatre, with three Operating Tables and world class, excellent surgical
instruments such as Draeger Anaesthethesia work stations, Carl Zeiss operating
microscopes, Phacoemulsification machine, Boyle’s Apparatus etc. It is fully equipped to
conduct three operations simultaneously.
Recovery room (pre and post-operative area) where Patients are received prior to surgery
and placed after surgery till they recover from the effects of anaesthesia. This area has six
beds and is equipped to deal with post-operativeemergencies.
In addition, this coach has space for the storage of gas cylinders and stretchers.

Operation Theatre-I with 3 Operating Tables. ENT surgeries underway

6
7thCoach (CR-07890)
The 2nd Operation Theatre consists of the following:
The scrub area and an AC panel.
The Operation Theatre, with two Operating Tables, is fully equipped to conduct two
operations simultaneously.
Recovery room (pre & post-operative area) where Patients are received prior to surgery
and, are placed after surgery till they recover from the effects of anaesthesia. This area has
four beds and is equipped to deal with post- operative emergencies.
Sterilisation area which has one Autoclave.
Cubicles for Specialist Consultations and Examination room including for Gynaecology.

Operation Theatre-II with 2 Operating Tables

Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai

performs the first ever Cancer operation on a Train

7
8th Coach (CR-06571)
The fifth coach consists of cubicles for:
An Auditorium and / Training Centre that can seat up to 35 people with the audio visual
facilities of a Conference room to conduct workshops. ContinuingMedical Education (CME)
sessions and educational programs for patients and local Doctors are also held here.
An X-Ray Machine, a Console Room and Mammography Machine.
Blood Laboratory equipment.
An Ophthalmic Laboratory - Refractory testing, Keratometry and A Scanmachine and
space for Audiometry.

L: Mammography machine for Breast Cancer. R: Colposcope for detection of Cervical Cancer

6th Coach (CR-06572)

The sixth coach consists of:
A pharmacy / storeroom that is equipped with a refrigerator to store
temperature-sensitive medicines, surgical equipment and instruments.
Oral Cancer Detection Centre. Three Dental Chairs for dental procedures such as Scaling,
Filling & Extraction and Oral biopsies.

Transferring patient post-surgery Epilepsy Consultation underway

to Post-Operative Ward

8
7thCoach (CR-07887)
The seventh coach
Comprises a residential area for all LLE permanent staff.
A Guard room as required by Railway regulations.

Patients await their turn to be examined at the LLE Out Patient Dept Clinics

Prema – Before & After Cleft Lip Surgery

Transforming lives in rural India

9
 Over 1.2 million treated at 204 project locations in 140 Districts of 19 States across India

Bhawari Devi was treated for hearing impairment, free of cost, at Jalore in Rajasthan: Reuters
10
Dental Treatment to promote Oral Health & Hygiene for all ages

Eye operated patients arrive for follow up examinations

11
 Each LLE project location provides medical services, free-of cost, to the rural poor with the
support of the local Government, Corporates, PSUs, Foundations and dedicated, committed
medical volunteers

December 24, 2019

12