Kidney Foundation

Travancore Medicity Foundation for Organ Transplantation (TMFFOT) is formulated in the year 2016 under the leadership of the management of Travancore Medical College Hospital alias Travancore Medicity, Kollam-691020. The TMFFOT has a ‘Board of Trustees’ consists of 44 members. It include management members, Public of Kollam consisting of Businessmen, Social reformers, persons from charitable associations, working for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society and the staff and students of various institutions in the Travancore Medicity. The aim and objective of TMFFOT is to provide possible help to poor and deserved persons and patients who are suffering from serious diseases like kidney, heart, liver etc.  and to provide financial assistance and partial support for their organ’s transplantation and continued treatment thereafter irrespective of their cast, creed or colour.

Unfortunately, there is no organ transplantation center in Kollam district except the Kidney Transplantation Centre at Travancore Medicity attached to the Travancore Medical College Hospital. This centre with all modern facilities and experts in the field has been conducting the kidney transplantation procedure at the lowest possible rates comparing to that of other transplantation centers in the state. As a result many under privileged patients could undergo kidney transplantation and lead a normal life afterwards.

FORMATION OF THE TRAVANCORE MEDICITY KIDNEY FOUNDATION

Most of the patients who approach Travancore Medicity for kidney related treatments including dialysis are either financially very poor or the bread winners of their family. They find it difficult to undergo kidney transplantation and post-surgery treatments even if there are willing donors. They therefore continue their life with dialysis. In this context, The Board of Trustees of ‘Travancore Medicity Foundation for Organ Transplantation’ has decided to the formation of Travancore Medicity Kidney Foundation as a subsidiary unit of the TMFFOT in the year 2016 itself with a view to bestow full/Partial financial assistance for renal transplantation, Post renal surgery treatment and free dialysis for the poor eligible patients.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF KIDNEY FOUNDATION

a) The main objective is to establish, mobilize and maintain a welfare fund in order to provide medicine, medical treatment and other assistance to poor and financially outridden kidney patients, irrespective of their caste, creed or colour, undergoing renal transplantation surgeries/ procedures in reputed renal transplantation centers in Kollam district.

b) To provide post-surgical medicines at free of cost or concessional rate to poor and financially backward patients who have undergone kidney transplantation surgery in reputed renal transplantation centers in Kollam District.

c) To provide free dialysis/ partial financial assistance to dialysis patient who are undergoing dialysis through different schemes organized by Travancore Medicity Kidney Foundation.

MODE AND METHODS OF RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

IN TRAVANCORE MEDICITY

Govt. of Kerala has permitted to conduct blood related (Donor & Recipient) transplantation only in Travancore Medicity. Travancore Medicity Kidney Foundation has three bodies – a Screening committee, Governing Body and the Board of Trustees. Screening committee is empowered to receive and scrutinize the applications for financial assistance and determine eligible beneficiaries for the medical aid depending upon the kind of procedure required by the patient. The Screening Committee submits its report to the Governing Body. As soon as the recommendation of the Screening Committee is received, the Governing Body is bound to consider it for sanctioning financial assistance to deserving patients subject to the final approval of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees after detailed scrutiny will ratify the actions of the Governing Body.

SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED BY TMKF FOR FREE DIALYSIS

OR WITH PARTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

Most of the patients who approach the Travancore Medical College Hospital (Travancore Medicity) for Kidney related treatment including dialysis are either financially very poor or down trodden people of the society. Before the formation of TMKF, many of them have approached the Travancore Medicity Management for free dialysis or partial dialysis at concessional rate. The management had gone through the applications and they have allowed free dialysis or dialysis at concessional rate according to the ability of the applicants. Soon after the formation of TMKF that procedure was taken over by the Kidney Foundation itself. In the meantime it had started various schemes Viz, Snehasparsam, Jama- at Scheme, Thousand Dialysis schemes etc.  to provide free dialysis to the poor and deserving patients. The period of free dialysis was extended for three years in every scheme. The said period would further initially be extended to the deserved patients.

Capital and financial position of TMKF

During the formation of Travancore Medicity Kidney Foundation, Travancore Medicity Management had given some amount as working capital and subsequently contributions from the doctors and other staff of Travancore Medicity were collected. In the meantime, financial assistance have been received from the public and charitable associations who are kind hearted so as to support the poor and down trodden people of the society. These are the main source of income of TMKF. Thus, an amount of 98,60,035/- has been collected so far against Rs. 1,27,87,360/- spent for providing financial assistance for renal transplantation, free dialysis/ free medicines and medical treatments to the poor and deserved renal patients. Now this Foundation is bound to repay 29 lakhs of rupees to Travancore Medicity for the above charitable activities done so far. Meanwhile, a lot of new applications are being received for renal transplantation, free dialysis and further kidney related medical treatment. The patients are eagerly waiting for a call from TMKF which is now in acute financial crisis whereas the foundations is in the plights to get financial assistance from various sources.

ROLE OF THE PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE SOCIETIES AND OTHER

INSTITUTIONS TO FULFILL THE DREAMS OF THE POOR PATIENTS

Now a days tremendous effort is required for the collection of funds for carrying out the charitable process, especially for providing financial assistance to poor and deserving patients who are in need of renal transplantation, post-renal surgery treatment, medicines, free dialysis etc. The Board of Trustees of TMKF has been making maximum effort to create a corpus fund by contributing themselves and uniting the public like businessmen, social reformers, charitable societies and other institutions are ready to participate in this noble and charitable venture. The role of the Public and other charitable institutions are very significant to bring this venture a success. They can easily promote the activities of the ‘Travancore Medicity Kidney Foundation’ by providing maximum financial assistance either becoming a member of this Trust or a worthing contributor in its fund collection drive. As per section 80 c of the income tax, the donating amount to TMKF is exempted from income tax. Hence persons from different walk of life, Charitable Societies and other institutions are requested to bestow their maximum support to TMKF to fulfill the dreams of the distressed poor renal patients and to be a good Samaritans.