Saturday, May 31, 2025

PANATT MEDICAL RELIEF TRUST

 


Reg No: 143/2024

Trustees: Dr George Paul and Dr Bini George

F 72 Brindavan Road, Fairlands, Salem – 636016. TN.

A Project Proposal for Philanthropic Support


Executive Summary

The Panatt Medical Relief Trust stands as a beacon of hope for those marginalized by the inequities of healthcare access in India. Founded by two dedicated healthcare professionals, Dr. George Paul and Dr. Bini George, the Trust is committed to making quality health services available and affordable for the underprivileged.

With a combined experience of over eight decades, the founders have seen the plight of the poor firsthand. Their tireless service — nationally and internationally — forms the foundation upon which the Trust is built. The Trust seeks to bridge the systemic gaps in healthcare by facilitating access to affordable treatment options, offering counseling, negotiating for subsidized services, and actively disseminating healthcare information.

Through data collection, advocacy, partnerships, and targeted financial assistance, the Panatt Medical Relief Trust strives to empower the most vulnerable with the dignity of choice and access to life-saving care. This proposal outlines our mission, operational plan, funding requirements, and the transformative impact we aim to achieve — inviting corporates, foundations, and philanthropic individuals to join hands in this vital mission.


1. Introduction and Background

India’s healthcare system is a paradox of excellence and exclusion. While there are world-class hospitals and cutting-edge technologies, large sections of the population remain deprived of basic health services due to high costs, lack of awareness, and systemic inefficiencies.

In response to this urgent need, the Panatt Medical Relief Trust was founded by Dr. George Paul and Dr. Bini George, under their family name "Panatt." Practicing in Salem, Tamil Nadu, the founders have dedicated their lives to serving the community through their professions and beyond.

Both have a track record of extending free or subsidized care to those who could not afford it, often going beyond professional obligations to ensure that patients received necessary treatments.

Notably, Dr. George Paul’s humanitarian work includes:

  • Serving in the UNHCR's First Asylum Camp for Vietnamese Boat People in Palawan, Philippines (1990)
  • Volunteering in Montego Bay, Jamaica (1991 and 1993) for Rotary International
  • Working with Claretian Missionaries in Parrochio San Antonio, Guatemala (1993)
  • Serving in the UNHCR Detention Camp at High Island, Hong Kong
  • Volunteering at Kilimangago Mission Hospital, Thika, Kenya

In India, he served gratis as Hon. Medical Director of Sharon Cancer Centre for over 15 years, performing hundreds of life-saving surgeries without charge.

Dr. Bini George has complemented this work with her own commitment, undergoing specialized training in Palliative Care from Pallium India and working with vulnerable groups such as children with mental disabilities at CSI Balagnana Illam.

Both founders continued their services during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating resilience, empathy, and dedication.


2. Founder Profiles

Dr. George Paul

  • Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • 40+ years of practice
  • Extensive volunteer work with UNHCR, Rotary International, and mission hospitals globally
  • Hon. Medical Director, Sharon Cancer Centre (1995-2010)
  • Chairman, Advisory Committee, Sharon Palliative Care Centre
  • Chairman, Institutional Review Board (Ethics), Salem Polyclinic
  • Director designate, Smile Train India, Salem (in the process of accreditation)
  • Qualified Lawyer and Ethicist

Dr. Bini George

  • Dental Surgeon with advanced training in Palliative Care (Pallium India)
  • Volunteer Consultant at CSI Balagnana Illam
  • Board Member, Palliative Initiative, Sharon Palliative Care Centre

3. Need Statement (Problem Analysis)

Despite numerous governmental health schemes, a large segment of India’s population is still unable to access affordable, quality healthcare. Key challenges include:

  • High out-of-pocket expenses for diagnostics, surgeries, and medications
  • Lack of awareness of available government schemes and affordable options
  • Cartelization and inflated pricing of medical services and drugs
  • Limited access to trustworthy information on hospitals, infrastructure, and costs
  • Bureaucratic hurdles in accessing welfare health initiatives
  • Insufficient advocacy and navigation support for economically vulnerable patients
  • Bottlenecks and impediments in Insurance claims
  • Defensive medical practices due to mob violence against even genuine medical practices

Without intervention, millions are pushed into poverty every year due to healthcare expenses, perpetuating a vicious cycle of deprivation and ill health.


4. Objectives and Mission of Panatt Medical Relief Trust

The Trust has a clear and targeted set of objectives:

  1. Collect and disseminate data on healthcare costs across different sectors.
  2. Provide counseling to patients seeking affordable healthcare solutions.
  3. Employ a primary care physician / Health worker to offer navigation support to the needy.
  4. Partner with hospitals to negotiate subsidized or free treatment packages.
  5. Identify reliable sources for inexpensive generic medications.
  6. Counter monopolistic practices that inflate healthcare costs.
  7. Educate the public about treatment options and dispel health-related myths.
  8. Apply ethical principles such as distributive justice to ensure equitable resource allocation.
  9. Create a Dashboard/ Website for internet access and communication for doctors and patients.
  10. Assist patients who are denied justified insurance claims by engaging with third party providers and regulatory bodies.

Above all, the Trust pledges to preserve the autonomy of patients in choosing healthcare providers, maintaining a neutral stance and avoiding preferential promotion.


5. Project Description and Approach

The Panatt Medical Relief Trust will work on a multi-pronged approach:

  • Data Collection: Mapping diagnostic centers, hospitals, and private practitioners with an analysis of pricing structures.
  • Patient Counseling: A walk-in helpdesk and telephone service to guide patients toward affordable healthcare options.
  • Hospital Partnerships: Collaborating with government and private hospitals to secure discounts or preferential rates for needy patients.
  • Pharmaceutical Access: Sourcing generic drugs through government outlets or reputable pharmacies to lower medication costs.
  • Awareness Campaigns: Conducting educational sessions, press releases, and social media campaigns to spread health literacy.
  • Soft Activism: Engaging with government bodies to streamline access to welfare schemes and improve public healthcare infrastructure.

6. Current Activities and Achievements (in one week of operation)

To be officially launched on 1st June

Preliminary aid

  • For free cleft lip surgeries in partnership with private donations
  • Arranged subsidized pathology and biopsy for several patients
  • Two free surgeries for head and neck tumours
  • Free counceling
  • Initiated data collection on healthcare costs and service mapping in Salem.
  • Begun preliminary negotiations with hospitals for subsidized rates.
  • A medical board is being constituted

The Trust’s growing network of volunteers and goodwill ambassadors continues to drive momentum even with minimal resources.


7. Target Beneficiaries

  • Economically disadvantaged patients requiring diagnostic, surgical, or medical care
  • Patients unaware of their rights under government health schemes
  • Low-income families vulnerable to catastrophic healthcare expenses
  • Marginalized populations including children, elderly, and persons with disabilities
  • Protecting the legal rights of health care providers

The Trust aims to benefit 500–1000 patients annually in the initial phases, scaling impact based on resource mobilization.


8. Expected Impact

By empowering patients with information and facilitating access to affordable services, the Trust envisions:

  • Reduced financial burden of healthcare for hundreds of families
  • Increased uptake of government health schemes
  • Improved treatment outcomes through timely interventions
  • Greater public awareness about affordable healthcare options
  • Advocacy-driven improvements in health policy execution at the local level

9. Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

To ensure accountability and measure effectiveness:

  • A database of assisted patients will be maintained.
  • Monthly reports will track key metrics: number of patients counseled, surgeries facilitated, funds disbursed, discounts negotiated, etc.
  • Annual audits will verify financial compliance and impact assessment.
  • Beneficiary feedback will be collected to improve services.

10. Sustainability and Scalability Plan

Sustainability will be achieved by:

  • Diversifying funding sources (CSR, individual philanthropy, foundations). The CSR certificate application is still ongoing.
  • Volunteer-driven operations to minimize administrative costs
  • Partnering with other NGOs and government initiatives
  • Gradual scaling into neighboring districts based on success metrics

11. Funding Requirements and Budget

Monthly Estimated Operational Costs:

Item

Cost (INR)

Part-time  Medical Officer

₹20000 (honaraium)

Nursing Assistant

₹5,000 (honaraium)

Audit, Accounting and Office

₹10,000

Furniture, Electricity, Internet

₹5,000

Miscellaneous (Stationery, Printing)

₹3000

Total Monthly Running Cost

₹40,000–45,000

Financial Aid for Patients:

  • Dependent on case-to-case need assessment
  • Estimated initial disbursement: ₹2–3 lakh per quarter

Annual Operational Budget Requirement: ₹12-15 lakh (including patient aid)


12. Governance, Compliance, and Transparency

The Panatt Medical Relief Trust is:

  • Registered under the Indian Trusts Act
  • We have obtained 12A, 80G certifications for tax-exempt donations and registered with all statutory requirements including Darpan
  • Application to receive CSR- in process
  • Committed to full transparency with donors
  • Subject to annual financial audits
  • Guided by a Board of Trustees comprising experienced voluntary medical and administrative professionals

13. Appeal for Support                                                                

We invite corporates, philanthropists, foundations, and socially conscious individuals to partner with the Panatt Medical Relief Trust. Your support can save lives, restore dignity, and transform communities.

Together, we can ensure that the accident of birth or circumstance does not determine a person’s right to health.

Every contribution matters. Every life matters.