West Bengal

TLM Purulia Hospital

ABOUT THE HOSPITAL

TLM Purulia Hospital was established in the year 1888.

It all started with Rev. Henry Uffman, a German missionary, and pastor of the local Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Purulia, West Bengal, in 1888. Seeing the suffering of leprosy patients thrown out of their homes because of the stigma associated with the disease, Rev. Uffman built thatched huts at the southern part of Bhatbandh Christian Burial ground (afterwards it was shifted to the present place) to provide them care and shelter. The Mission to Lepers (now, The Leprosy Mission Trust India) was associated with Rev. Uffman’s work from the very beginning.

The hospital always kept pace with the latest developments in leprosy care. In the 1950s, Dr Paul Brand pioneered reconstructive surgery for leprosy patients, and in 1954, doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists of the hospital were trained in reconstructive surgery. From its humble beginnings, the hospital has grown into a specialist leprosy hospital-cum-community hospital catering to leprosy patients and general patients in rural West Bengal.

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
• Physiotherapy
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Counselling Therapy
• Dentistry

HIGHLIGHTS 2019

Outpatient Care

• 74,127 OPD consultations provided, with 20% for leprosy.

Inpatient Care

The hospital has a 80-bedded (50 for leprosy and 30 for general) inpatient wing and provides best inpatient facility with 24-hour nursing care and latest equipment.

• 1,583 patients admitted, of which 40% were leprosy patients.
• 15,345 bed days utilised, of which 82% were for leprosy.

Surgery

• 305 rehabilitation surgeries done.
• 743 eye surgeries, including 694 cataract surgeries done.
• 442 general surgeries done.

Support Services (Lab Tests; X-ray, ECG, Counselling)

• 40,722 lab tests, including 3,567 skin smear examinations and 37,155 other tests done.
• 1,997 X-ray imaging and 1,056 ECG done.
• 7,338 patients counselled.

Prevention of impairment and disability (POID) in leprosy

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

• 171 leprosy patients diagnosed with reaction/neuritis given inpatient treatment.
• 284 leprosy patients admitted for ulcer management, and 212 ulcer debridement procedures done.
• 5,678 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 tribals in accessing government social welfare schemes for education, economic development, healthcare, housing, insurance, livelihood pension, etc.

A total of 300 patients were seen through hospital outreach activities.