Bhaktivedanta Hospital

The Bhaktivedanta Hospital is a flagship center for holistic health and spiritual care in Mumbai, emerging from the Radha Gopinath Temple congregation.[1] What started as a dream to provide quality healthcare at an affordable cost by a few fresh medical graduates way back in 1986, transformed into the present-day state-of-the-art 150-bed multi-speciality hospital by Sri Chaitanya Welfare Charitable Trust.[2] As a tribute to ISKCON founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and by the inspiration of Radhanath Swami, it essentially functions as a "not-for-profit" institution with the motto of "Serving in Devotion".[3]

Origin

The early days saw the doctors conducting medical camps in various areas in and around Maharashtra to the medically deprived and needy.[3] Years of dedicated service to thousands of patients led to the launch of 7-bed ‘Sri Chaitanya Clinic’ (or Bhaktivedanta Clinic) in Mira Road, Mumbai in 1992,[3][4] which eventually led to establishing the 60-bed Bhaktivedanta Hospital in 1998.[5] Although closed in 2003 due to a labour dispute, it was reopened in August 2004 by a different trust.[6][7] As of 2014, it also includes four ultramodern operation theaters, a 16-bed ICU,[2] 120 consulting specialists and 360 medical and paramedical staff – about half of which are initiated Hare Krishna followers.[8] The hospital also houses a Ayurveda, Yoga and Rehabilitation Center as well as an exclusive department on Spiritual Care.[5] On the educational front, it includes Institute of Nursing Education, Institute of Paramedical Science and a Certificate Course for Spiritual Care in Nursing.[9] The Bhaktivedanta Cancer Institute, Eye Care/Vision Center, Urology Center and Center of excellence in Heart Care enhance the breadth of services offered.[5] The hospital also has a special team for counselling patients and an impressive palliative care unit.[10]

Community Services

Community services form one of the core pillars of the hospital, which it extensively pursues. It has medically-equipped mobile vans to attend to eye care, cancer and maternity issues in remote sections of society.[5] On the same lines, it also established the Hamrapur Community Healthcare Center in Wada Taluka, Maharashtra in association with Lions Club.[11] In addition to social initiatives such as the Green Paper Forum, the hospital conducts regular free medical camps such as the Barsana Eye and Dental Camp, Pandharpur Camp, Senior Citizen Camp, School Camp, Cancer Camp and Dialysis Camp.[5][11] The annual Barsana Camp, in particular, has been highly successful in that the doctors perform 600-700 free cataract surgeries annually and have even attracted doctors from far-off lands like the US and Britain.[12][13] Consequently, the efforts led to the founding of the Barsana Health Care Center in Uttar Pradesh.[14] In addition, the Bhaktivedanta Hospice Center was instituted to serve those who desire to spend their last days in the holy site of Vrindavan with the best of medical care.[15] The hospital is also proactive in disaster relief activities such as the Gujarat earthquake relief (2001), Tsunami relief (2004), Mumbai flood relief (2005), Mumbai bomb-blasts (2006) and Uttarakhand floods (2013).[16][17][18]

Awards and Recognition

In 2014, AmeriCares India awarded Bhaktivedanta Hospital the "Spirit of Humanity Awards" for their work in the category of Oncology,[19] while it also won "Best Multi Specialty Hospital", "Best Hospital for Wellness & Healthcare", "Excellence in Hospice & Palliative Medicine" and "Best Teacher" awards in Indo-Global Healthcare Summit & Expo 2014.[20] The Times of India, in association with New India Assurance Co. Ltd., recognized the hospital's persistent efforts and designated it as "Trendsetter in Quality Patient Care and Safety" in the Healthcare Achievers Awards 2014.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Dwyer, Graham; Cole, Richard J., eds. (2007). The Hare Krishna movement: Forty years of chant and change. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1845114078.
  2. 1 2 Shah, Dr. Bimal. "Bhaktivedanta Hospital". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "About Us". Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "History of Radha Gopinath Temple". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Kumar, Pranav. "A Tour Of Bhaktivedanta Hospital". prezi.com. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Hospital shut after Sena attack". MiD DAY. 2003-09-29. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  7. ↑ Bhaktivedanta Hospital Vandalised Mumbai Newsline
  8. ↑ Rosen, Steven J. (2007). Black Lotus: The Spiritual Journey of an Urban Mystic. Washington, D.C.: Hari-Nama Press. ISBN 1885414234.
  9. ↑ "Educational Activities". Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  10. ↑ DNA Correspondent (17 April 2014). "Spirit of Humanity Awards given away". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Community Services and Health Camps". Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Smullen, Madhava (12 February 2012). "ISKCON Volunteer Eye Camp in Barsana". Vrindavan Today News. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Radhanath Swami (2010). The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami. San Rafael, Calif.: Mandala Pub. p. 345. ISBN 1601090560.
  14. ↑ "Barsana Healthcare Center Official Website". barsanahealthcare.com. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  15. ↑ "Bhaktivedanta Hospice Official Website". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Disaster Relief". Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  17. ↑ Ramanujam, Gayathri (17 July 2006). "Medicine & Spirituality!". Afternoon D&C. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". shareyourcare.com. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  19. ↑ Press Release (17 April 2014). "AmeriCares India Announces Spirit of Humanity Award Winners". AmeriCares India. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "List of Awardees". The Indus Foundation. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  21. ↑ "Leaders of the Healthcare Industry". The Times of India. 23 December 2014. p. 10. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

External links

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