Artificial limb manufacturing units to be set up in five hospitals

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a major step towards strengthening rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has announced the establishment of artificial limb manufacturing units in five government teaching hospitals across the state. The initiative aims to provide affordable and accessible assistive devices, including artificial limbs, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and other rehabilitation equipment, directly through government healthcare institutions.

The first phase of the project will be implemented at government teaching hospitals in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Ongole, Tirupati, and Kurnool. According to the minister, the initiative will significantly reduce the financial burden and travel difficulties faced by differently-abled individuals who currently depend on private suppliers or distant centers for prosthetic and assistive devices.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who wrote to the Central Government seeking the establishment of artificial limb manufacturing centers across all 27 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Responding positively to the proposal, the Centre has approved the first phase in five major teaching hospitals.

Teams from the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), functioning under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, have begun inspections of the selected hospitals to assess infrastructure requirements, available space, and support facilities. The inspections commenced on Monday and will pave the way for setting up the units at the earliest. The minister explained that the centers will provide end-to-end rehabilitation services, including patient assessment, measurement collection, manufacturing, fitting, maintenance, and repair of assistive devices.

Specialized staff will be recruited to ensure smooth functioning of the units. The facilities will use modern technologies such as advanced clinical measurement systems for precise casting and customized designs. Thermoplastic molding techniques will be employed to create comfortable sockets and braces tailored to individual patient requirements. The centers will also manufacture prosthetic limbs, splints, calipers, spinal support braces, and other orthopedic aids using standardized fabrication methods.