- The telehealth based Aarogya Sakha is a free specialist doctor consultation service to support painters and their families with access to medical specialists from Bengaluru’s premium RxDx Healthcare chain
- The service of online specialist doctors is currently available in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka
AkzoNobel India has partnered with Telerad Foundation,a global healthcare organization to begin a telehealth project- Aarogya Sakha, to improve the healthcare status of the painter community. In the first phase of this project, the healthcare service will be accessible to 2,00,000 painters and their families across states of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Painters will receive consultations in Kannada, Hindi, and English.
With a 24×7 assistance for appointment booking, the facility provides access to doctors and specialists from Bengaluru’s premium RxDx Healthcare chain to the painters and their families. Aarogya Sakha offers both audio and video consultation, thrice a week. The initiative provides impetus to AkzoNobel India’s ongoing efforts to connectblue collar communities with affordablehealthcare care.
Rajiv Rajgopal, Managing Director, AkzoNobel India, said, “In these extraordinary times, Aarogya Sakhabridges the gap between underprivilegedpainters and quality healthcare by enabling them to connect through virtual channels. Painters, and contractors are an integral part of our value chain and with Aarogya Sakha, we are committed in providing quality yet affordablehealthcare to them and their families. The facility offersspecialized healthcare services including of screening of COVID-19 symptoms.”
Before starting the AarokyaSakha project, a survey was carried out by Telerad Foundation on behalf of AkzoNobel to understand the health needs and feasibility of telehealth amongst the painter community. As per the survey, the painter community expressed their primary concern over the accessibility and affordability to quality healthcare. 33% of the painter community spend nearly ₹12,000 annually on hospital charges and fees. About 83% of contractors and 68% painters mentioned that they own smartphones, while 68% of the population are accustomed to video calls. Studies have shown that 70% of the outpatient cases do not require a physical presence in a clinic for an accurate diagnosis. And, telehealth is a convenient solution in making specialist care readily available.
Recently, AkzoNobel India launched Dulux Protect, a comprehensive programme aimed at supporting painters and contractors due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Some of the initiatives include financial support, providing dry ration kits, health protection through insurance and tele-medicine facilities, and a safe return to the workplace by providing PPE kits.
About AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel has a passion for paint. We’re experts in the proud craft of making paints and coatings, setting the standard in color and protection since 1792. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. Headquartered in the Netherlands, we are active in over 150 countries and employ around 33,000 talented people who are passionate about delivering the high-performance products and services our customers expect.
About AkzoNobel India
AkzoNobel India has been present in India for over 60 years and is a significant player in the paints industry. In 2008, the company became a member of the AkzoNobel Group. With employee strength of over 1,482, AkzoNobel India has manufacturing sites, offices and a distribution network spread across the country. All manufacturing facilities have a state-of-the-art environmental management system. Its commitment to Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSE&S) has been among the best-in-class globally, with due care being taken to protect people and the environment.