Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust's
Bhaktashreshtha Kamalakarpant Laxman Walawalkar Hospital and Diagnostic Centre

By Dr. Sunil Nadkarni
M.S. (Ortho). FRCS (Edin)
Mch (Ortho.) (Liverpool), Honorary Orthopaedician

I first visited Dervan about 3 years ago before going to Sydney and twice since then. It was an inspiring experience especially having just returned following 14 years of stay abroad.

Hospitals are meant to be institutions fufilling the health needs of society. Medical Science and with it the cost of health care has grown steeply. Whereas technological advances has meant that early diagnosis of many debilitating conditions is now posible along with early treatment. The high cost of these modalities has meant that it is available to a select few. Perversely, these options are not applied based on the need of the person evaluated by rigorous clinical trials but rather on the ability to pay. This is only natural given teh cost of healthcare. However it remains imperative that social organizations take on the responsibility of trying to buffer the cost of modern health care. It serves the dual purpose of taking healthcare to the needy without compromising quality and at the same time allows the development of the science of medicine which is threatened constantly by the cost. All over the world this is proving to be a very difficult task and even the governments of the developed countries are finding it impossible to bear the burden on its own effectively.

Visiting B.K.L.W. Hospital & Diagnostic Centre run by Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust at Dervan instantly made me aware of a real life example eschewing the noble cause of fulfilling the medical needs of people using uptodate equipment and medical practices with great care and in a very scientific manner. This has been possible through the provision of sound infrastructure, excellent equipment and highly trained and motivated personnel.

The location of the hospital complex is amidst the clean environment only ever provided by an abundance of natural flora undisturbed by excessive pollutants either by industry or high density human occupation. It is hard to believe that such a massive conglomeration of buildings could be constructed without cutting down any of the trees. It is almost as if there was a natural design behind the construction. The layout comprises a roomy foyer with spacious corridors leading to the out patient departments and investigative facilities. The wards are well spread out but at the same time designed in a fashion to allow satisfactory medical monitoring of the needs of the patients but also of the accompanying relatives. The infrastructure is full of excellent features planned to the last detail. This is highlighted by the inclusion of storage tanks at adequate height ensuring supply of ample clean filtered water. To cover the exigencies of failed electricity supply generators are provided. The infrastructure provides comfortable facilities not only for patients and their relatives but also for the employees. Facilities include provision for recreation of the personnel and a school for children. The operating theaters are of a very comfortable size. Separate theatres are provided for septic and asseptic cases.

The Hospital is well equipped. There are ventilators and modern monitoring instruments to look after seriously ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit. The laboratory is provided with satisfactory facilities even allowing for automated blood investigation. Imaging equipment includes not only facilities for plain radiographs and Ultrasound but also a C.T. Scanner.The surgical equipment includes the anaesthetic machine, diathermy, good light source, excellent operating table and comprehensive neatly packed and surgical instruments with autoclaves.

The Hospital provides good quality healthcare thanks to the well motivated and competent medical, paramedical and nonmedical staff. Life saving treatment is provided for such conditions as shakebite victims, renal failure, road traffic accidents and many other life threatening conditions. It was heartwarming and inspiring to hear how the ventilators have saved the lives of many victims suffering from reversible respiratory failure. Surgical proceduers are undertaken and adjuvant treatment is provided for patients suffering from the dreaded disease of cancer. Facilities for haemodialysis are provided for patients with kidney failure. There was a patient on I.C.U. who had received a pace maker.

Having been round so many hospitals in the world it was an incredible experience to see modern health practice at work, helpin so many with the help of modern up-to-date equipment in very natural surroundings, supported by dedicated and motivated staff. Listening to the plans of expanding the provision of services based on the medical needs of the people, the Institution was sure to keep pace with the best in the world. In fact the Hospital Managers around the world will find a lot to learn and take away valuable lessons from the practices in this premier institute. It is a supreme blend of the efforts to fulfill the health needs of the population using modern practices without destroying the natural habitat, situated in a very clean and beautiful neighbourhood. I feel blessed and incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to visit and seen this shrine engaged in helping so many.