The world's first hospital on wheels, the Life Line Express, will be running through Jamnagar district for the first time between Nov 21, 2004 and Dec 21, 2004. Impact India Foundation is the managing organisation, while Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD), the community development wing of Tata Chemicals Limited, forms the sponsor for this event. The state government's health and family welfare department, Indian Railways, NGOs, medical and para medical professionals are some of the other organisations involved in this cause.

The journey of the Life Line Express started on July 16, 1991 and caters to the urgent needs of the handicapped in remote and inaccessible areas. The railway network in the country, which covers more than 70,000 km of track, acts as a catalyst thereby creating the potential of bringing vital health services to the remote corners of the country.

Alka Talwar, head - community development, TCSRD, said, "The concept of Life Line Express ensures that world-class medical facilities reach the remotest of places, thus giving the rural folk an opportunity to avail of the medical facilities which they otherwise are deprived of." 

The Life Line Express consists of four railway coaches equipped with sophisticated medical and surgical facilities, as well as a training centre for doctors. It provides on-the-spot diagnostic, medical and surgical treatment completely free of charge.

Some of the services the Life Line Express provides include restoration of movement to polio affected persons, restoration of sight through cataract operations, intra ocular lens implants, counselling and referral services, cleft lip surgeries, middle ear surgeries and many more. 

B Sudhakar, head - corporate HR and communications, Tata Chemicals, said, "True to the Tata Group philosophy and central to the corporate philosophy of  Tata Chemicals is the commitment of improving the quality of life in the communities we serve. TCSRD has always undertaken development initiatives and have been involved in partnering and networking with various development agencies, corporate bodies and NGOs to implement appropriate community development programmes. The Life Line Express is one such initiative that is close to our heart and is a concept that helps provide services in places where there are no great hospital facilities."

The Life Line Express at Mithapur would be inaugurated on Nov 20, 2004, and the services would be available upto Dec 21, 2004. Today, Tata Chemicals, through Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development is bringing to Mithapur (Dwarka Taluka and Jamnagar District) the world famous Community Health Project of Impact India through this Life line Express.