Medical Aid
Reimbursement of medical bills to the underprivileged patients of RCC in part or full against presentation of original bills. This process is carried out at our office in RCC.
Care Plus is a registered charitable non-governmental organization working in association with the Pain and Palliative Care Department of the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Trivandrum. Care Plus was founded in 2003 by the initiative of late Mr KP Thomas under the directions of Dr M Krishnan Nair, founder Director of RCC. While caring for his ailing wife at RCC, Mr KP Thomas witnessed the suffering and struggles of cancer patients and their families, from the poorer sections of society. To help and support those hapless victims of cancer and their families, he and a small group of volunteers together with the support of Dr M Krishnan Nair, Director, RCC and Dr (Mrs) Rachel Cherian Koshy of Pain & Palliative Care department, established Care Plus as a society housed in RCC. The path set by the founders has since been faithfully followed, gaining momentum year by year.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our flagship activity is the provision of medical care for the cancer patients at their homes. Our target group are low income patients who find it difficult both physically and financially to attend OP regularly. Our two Home Care medical teams constituting doctors, nurses and volunteers visit these patients at their homes. Medicines are provided to alleviate pain, discomfort and other symptoms. The caregiver is given an instruction chart for administration of medicine along with practical advice and suggestions. Wherever needed, wounds are dressed, ascitic fluid is tapped, I.V fluid administered, enemas given, catheters and Ryle’s tube insertions are done/replaced – all of which are truly invaluable support when the logistics of taking the patient to a hospital are beyond the means of their struggling families. The office maintains a computerized patients’ list which is updated daily. Home-care visits are carried out every day of the week except on Sundays. Each team visits three to four patients a day. Each patient is visited at least once in three weeks. The teams also see patients on the second Friday of each month at the CSI Mission Hospital, Attingal. Home-care visits are limited to Trivandrum district.
At present, the Home Care service remains discontinued due to the Covid19 situation. Apart from our flagship activity, we also are actively involved in the rehabilitation of the patients’ families by providing financial help wherever possible. These activities include:
Reimbursement of medical bills to the underprivileged patients of RCC in part or full against presentation of original bills. This process is carried out at our office in RCC.
Financial aid is provided to patients and their caregivers to meet the transportation cost and other material needs during their hospital visits.
In several deserving cases monthly pension is given to the family members of patients and in other justifiable cases a onetime financial aid is also provided.
Surgeons at RCC identify underprivileged patients who find it difficult to pay the advance of Rs. 7,000 – 10,000 for their surgery and CARE PLUS provides financial assistance to them.
CARE PLUS supports the education of the children of cancer patients, who are often consumed with anxiety over the future of their children. We support children at all stages of their education, giving annually, Rs.4000 to school-goers LKG to 9thstd, Rs.8000 to 10th, 11th&12thstudents, Rs.10000 to Degree, Diploma and Technical courses and Rs. 12000 to those in professional courses. The money is transferred monthly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. We monitor the progress of the students regularly..
We celebrate Onam and Christmas every year with the Home Care patients and their families. With a sick patient at home and no source of income, these families often do not have the resources to celebrate special occasions. Usually a meeting is held followed by cultural programmes including programmes from the patients and their family members. Breakfast, tea and lunch are served during the day. Food kits are distributed to each family and in addition, transport allowance is also provided to the patients and their families.
This function is conducted annually prior to the opening of each school year. All students sponsored by CARE PLUS and their families participate in this programme. This is also conducted as a celebration. School kits are provided to children, which include school bag, lunch boxes, umbrella, foot wear, books, writing materials, dress materials etc.
We have a team of members and volunteers actively involved in the welfare activities of the patients & family members including the family of those deceased patients.
Thus with care, concern and compassion, we endeavor to provide our patients and their families with the comfort and strength of knowing that they are not alone.