Department of Community Health

Established in 1955, the Community Health and Development Programme (CHAD) is the epicentre of CMC Vellore’s community health initiatives. It comprises a training centre, outpatient clinic, and secondary care hospital, providing training opportunities to medical, nursing, and paramedical students, postgraduates, and staff. Renowned worldwide for its epidemiological and translational research, it operates as a hub for medical excellence.

Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs (RUHSA)

Established in 1944, RUHSA, located 25 kilometers from Vellore, provides primary healthcare, inpatient care, mobile health services, and vocational training. It also promotes income-generating projects and improves agricultural practices.

Low Cost Effective Care Unit & Shalom Family Medicine Centre

The Low Cost Effective Care Unit (LCECU), set up in 1982, addresses the healthcare needs of underprivileged urban communities. As part of the Family Medicine Department, LCECU provides primary and secondary care to low-income residents. Located at the Schell Campus, it offers outpatient and inpatient services with 48 beds and operates outreach clinics in seven low-income areas of Vellore. LCECU also trains interns and Family Medicine postgraduates and supports primary care research.

The Department of Ophthalmology

The Department of Ophthalmology, one of CMC Vellore’s oldest, began in 1900. Named after the donor’s wife, it operates within the 40-bed Mary Taber Schell Memorial Hospital for Women and Children. Dr. Pauline Jeffery introduced the Eye and ENT department at Schell Hospital in 1928. By 1938, plans emerged to upgrade the MBBS course and renovate the hospital. A separate eye section became essential with a growing need for eye care. We established the Schell Eye Hospital in 1941 with 14 beds, utilising the old Schell Hospital’s resources.

College of Nursing Community Health (CONCH)

CONCH, initiated in 1987 by the Community Health Nursing Department, addresses the critical need for healthcare in rural areas. Partnering with local communities and utilising the existing government and private infrastructure resources, CONCH serves 25 villages with a population of 72,000 and a town area of 27,000 residents across two Community Development blocks in the Vellore and Ranipet districts.

Last updated on 2 November 2024