Andhra Pradesh

TLM Salur Hospital (TLM Philadelphia Community Hospital)

ABOUT THE HOSPITAL

TLM Salur Hospital was established in the year 1906.

Rev. Paul Schulze, a German Lutheran Missionary, one day saw a man hiding his hands and feet, and when Rev. Paul asked him what had happened, the man said that he had leprosy. Rev. Paul offered him a place in his compound and built a hut for him. Soon the news spread and other leprosy patients came looking for help. But soon the Rev. Paul’s savings were exhausted.

The Mission to Lepers (now, The Leprosy Mission Trust India) offered to build an asylum for the patients. Rev. Paul visited Purulia (where the Mission to Lepers had a leprosy home) to learn about running an asylum. Finally, an asylum was built in Jeegaram near Salur, in 1906. The present hospital in Salur was built in 1972, and the central and state governments recognised the hospital as a referral centre for treating leprosy, in 1973.

The facilities provided by the hospital include out-patient and in-patient services, operating theatre, laboratory service, ECG service, X-ray service, counselling, physiotherapy, pharmacy, MCR protective footwear and artificial limbs.

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

The hospital offers healthcare services and treatments for the following medical specialties:

• Leprosy Treatment and Management
• Dermatology
• Ophthalmology
• General Medicine
• General Surgery
• Obstetrics & Gynaecology
• Physiotherapy
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Counselling Therapy
• Dentistry

HIGHLIGHTS 2023

Outpatient Care

• 17,873 OPD consultations provided, with 14% for leprosy.

Inpatient Care

The hospital has a 60-bedded (40 for leprosy and 20 for general) inpatient wing and provides the best inpatient facility with 24-hour nursing care and latest equipment.

• 1,778 patients admitted, of which 25% were leprosy patients.
• 16,700 beds were utilised, of which 68% were for leprosy.

Surgery

• 154 rehabilitation surgeries done.
• 480 eye surgeries, including 439 cataract surgeries done.
• 861 general surgeries done.

Support services (lab tests; X-ray, ECG, counselling)

• 33,247 lab tests, including 695 skin smear examinations and 32,552 other tests done.
• 908 X-ray imaging and 850 ECG done.
• 170 patients counselled.

Prevention of impairment and disability (POID) in leprosy

The hospital provides patient education, physiotherapy, prefabricated splints, MCR protective footwear, etc, to leprosy patients to prevent impairment and disability.

• 15 leprosy patients diagnosed with reaction/neuritis given inpatient treatment.
• 325 leprosy patients admitted for ulcer management, and 97 ulcer debridement procedures done.
• 334 pairs of MCR protective footwear manufactured and supplied to hospital patients and government/others.

Community outreach

The hospital has a community outreach programme in schools and tribal villages. This is done through networking with the government and other NGOs. The hospital supports people affected by leprosy and members of marginalised communities and tribal’s in accessing government social welfare schemes for education, economic development, healthcare, housing, insurance, livelihood pension, etc.

A total of 3,157 patients were seen through hospital outreach activities.