MEDICAL FACILITIES
As early as 1668 the unhealthiness of the climate impressed upon the East India Company's servants in Bombay the prime need of a hospital. The Commissioners, writing to Surat in October of that year, stated that many of the soldiers were ill, and that medicines were urgently needed. But, notwithstanding the high mortality, no definite steps towards establishing a proper " hospital for sick English, " were taken until Gerald Aungier had assumed the reins of Government; and it was really due to his forcible representations that in 1675 the Court of Directors formally sanctioned the erection of a hospital. The Bombay authorities thereupon set about finding a suitable site, and informed the Directors that they estimated the cost of a building, capable of accommodating fifty or sixty patients.
In 1676 the Court of Directors despatched Dr. Wilson from England as first Physician, in the hope that he would prove " a great benefit and happiness to the Island ". It appears, however, that the proposed building was never erected, and that instead a new Court of Judicature was built in the bazaar, while the old Court situated on the Esplanade to the southeast of the present Cooperage was transformed into a hospital in 1677.
This hospital, the first ever known in Bombay, was in use until some little time prior to the year 1733, when a new building was erected near the Marine yard, nearly opposite the Great Western Hotel. The cost of completing it was defrayed by the imposition of a half per cent duty on trade. From 1740 onwards it was inspected weekly by a Board composed of the Land Paymaster, the Marine Paymaster and the Commandant of the Station, and seems to have been the chief resort for sick persons in both military and civil employ until the beginning of the nineteenth century, when the pressing need of more space in the Marine yard for the accommodation of workmen and materials forced Government to consider the desirability of choosing a new site.
In addition to this general hospital in the Fort, there were at the close of the eighteenth century a hospital for native troops on the Esplanade and a convalescent home on Old Woman's Island (Colaba).
The year 1824 witnessed the final relinquishment of the Marine yard hospital in favour of a new building erected in Hornby road for the use both of the garrison and the European civil population. The site had been occupied by a gun carriage factory, which was removed to Colaba about 1820. This hospital continued to be used until 1860, when the medical authorities condemned it, and Government determined to sell it with the land on which it stood, and devote the sale-proceeds to the erection of a new hospital on the Cooperage.
In consequence, interest in the matter languished until 1876, when the temporary huts in Fort George were relinquished in favour of a building known as the Officers' Quarters which had previously been used partly as the residence of the House Surgeon and partly as a convalescent, and contagious ward, and no definite step towards the construction of a proper hospital was taken until 1886, when, on the initiative of Lord Reay and Sir M. Melvill, plans were prepared and culminated in the laying of the foundation-stone of the present St. George's Hospital in 1889.
Apparently little was done towards providing State aid to the native population prior to the opening of the nineteenth century. Captain Hall, who visited Bombay shortly after the great famine of 1802-04, records that " several great sheds were erected as hospitals on the smooth greensward lying just beyond the foot of the glacis and reaching nearly across the Esplanade in front of the northern line of the fortifications. Numerous surgeons, some military and some belonging to the civil establishment, were called in from various out-stations and placed in charge of these and other infirmaries." (Fragments of Voyages (1832),64.) About 1809 a kind of Native General Hospital was in existence, which treated daily about 20 patients and was supported solely by Government. The inmates were chiefly paupers sent in by the police. In 1834, in pursuance of resolutions adopted at a public meeting, the Bombay Native Dispensary was opened in buildings granted rent-free by Government; and a few private dispensaries, notably one opened in Girgaum road in 1846, commenced to afford medical aid to the native population. The popularising of medical institutions and European remedies was largely the work of the Committee of the Native Dispensary, formed in 1836. By 1866 Bombay contained the Jamsetji Jijibhoy Hospital, including an Obstetric Hospital, and an Eye Dispensary, which was closed on the completion of the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Ophthalmic Hospital in that year, a Police Hospital, the Byculla Schools Hospital, and the Royal Indian Marine Dockyard Dispensary; while in 1874 the Jehangir Nasarwanji Wadia Dispensary at Mahim, opened several years before, was formally recognised by Government for a grant-in-aid, and the Gokuldas Tejpal Native General Hospital was opened for the benefit of native patients resident in areas distant from the J. J. Hospital. About this date the Native Dispensary opened a branch at Colaba, which was shortly afterwards abolished. This indirectly led to the opening of a branch in Khetwadi in 1877, which subsequently became the Nasarwanji Petit Charitable Dispensary. This was followed a decade later by a movement to afford medical relief to native women, who aversed treatment by male doctors, and in 1885 the Bombay Committee of the Medical Fund for the Women of India opened a temporary hospital for in-door patients at Khetwadi, the out-door patients being treated at the Jafar Suleman Dispensary for women and children, which was opened near the Crawford Market in the next year. In the following year (1886) the Pestanji Hormasji Cama Hospital was opened, whereupon the Khetwadi hospital was closed, and its inmates were removed to the former institution. The year 1890 witnessed the opening of the Bomanji Edalji Albless Obstetric Hospital. In 1890 the Acworth Leper Asylum at Matunga was opened, and in 1892 the Obstetric wards of the Jamsetji Jijibhoy Hospital were replaced by the Bai Motlibai Wadia Hospital and the Sir Dinsha Maneckji Petit Hospital, and an out-door department for both these hospitals was provided by the Dwarkadas Lallubhai Dispensary for women and children.
As compared to other urban areas of the State, better medical facilities are available in Greater Bombay through a network of medical institutions controlled by the Government, the Bombay Municipal Corporation and charitable trusts. These hospitals are well equipped and are well known in the country. A steady growth of public and public-aided hospitals and dispensaries in Bombay can be seen from the following statistics:—
|
Year |
Particulars |
1920 |
1930 |
1940 |
1950 |
1960 |
General hospitals and dispensaries. |
21 |
30 |
38 |
51 |
74 |
Hospitals and dispensaries for females. |
7 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
During 1960 these 74 general hospitals provided 4,528 beds, including 1,630 beds reserved for females. In addition, thirteen hospitals and dispensaries for females provided for 500 beds. The respective number of beds for the Bombay Division was 6,284 and 548, respectively. During 1975 there were as many as 191 hospitals and 284 dispensaries with a total bed strength of 19,526 and 27, respectively. The details are as under:—
Management |
Hospitals |
Dispensaries |
No. |
Beds |
No. |
Beds |
State Government |
18 |
4,691 |
12 |
17 |
Central Government |
8 |
1,477 |
128 |
|
Municipal Corporation |
23 |
7,187 |
2 |
10 |
Others |
142 |
6,171 |
142 |
|
Total |
191 |
19,526 |
284 |
27 |
Various hospitals provide teaching facilities for medical students for university degrees in surgery and preventive medicines. These are B. Y. L. Nair Hospital, Bombay Central; KEM Hospital, Parel; Sir J. J. Memorial Group of Hospitals, Byculia and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Hospital, Sion. The courses leading to the degree or diploma in ayurvedic system of medicine are conducted in the M.A. Podar Hospital, Worli; Smt. Kamaladevi Gauridutta Mittal Punarvasu Ayurvedic Mahavidyalaya, Charni Road and Ayurvedic Hospital, Sion. Instructions in homoeopathy are given by the Government Homoeopathic Hospital, Irla.
In Bombay there are some specialised hospitals. Mention amongst them may be made of Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients, Acworth Leprosy Hospital for leprosy patients, Kasturba Hospital for infectious diseases and Group of T.B. Hospitals for tuberculosis patients. Other specialised institutions are Eye Hospital and ENT Hospital, both managed by the Municipal Corporation. Likewise there are special hospitals for females and children. These are B. J. Wadia Hospital, Parel; Children's Orthopaedic Hospital, Haji Ali; and Cama and Albless Hospital, Fort. Considering the area-wise distribution of these hospitals, it is noticed that there is a heavy concentration in Parel and Fort areas. However the needs of suburbs and extended suburbs are met by recently established hospitals managed by private bodies and some established by the Municipal Corporation.
Apart from hospitals managed by the Government, Municipal Corporation and Private Bodies there are some hospitals in Greater Bombay which are exclusively meant for the employees of the Railways, the Police, the Navy, the Bombay Port Trust and hospitals started under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
State Government Hospitals
The State Government manages the St. George's Hospital, Fort ; J. J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla ; G. T. Hospital; Cama and Albless Hospital, Fort; M. A. Podar Hospital, Worli; Government Homoeopathic Hospital, Irla ; and Police Hospitals at Nagpada and Naigaum. The details of some of these hospitals are given below :—
St. George's Hospital: The foundation stone of this hospital was laid in February 1889 and the building was completed in 1892. Formerly it was known as the European General Hospital meant for treatment of sick Europeans. In the beginning it provided 130 beds. During the course of time the activities of the hospitals were expanded and at present it is one of the biggest hospitals in Greater Bombay having 467 beds. In the following statement is given the total number of patients treated and bed capacity:—
Year |
Patients treated |
Beds |
|
Indoor |
Outdoor |
Males |
Females |
1920 |
3,585 |
1,432 |
141 |
101 |
1930 |
3,000 |
3,036 |
131 |
89 |
1940 |
3,658 |
9,824 |
102 |
83 |
1950 |
5,307 |
22,911 |
138 |
83 |
1960 |
4,999 |
25,022 |
308 |
121 |
1980 |
1,61,330 |
3,19,400 |
467 |
During 1977 there were 34 doctors and 838 nurses working in the hospital.
Sir J. J. Hospital : The foundation stone of the Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals, Byculla, was laid in 1843 and the building was erected at the joint expenses of the East India Company and Sir Jamshetjee Jijibhoy Batliwala and the hospital was formally opened in 1845. In 1961 a new building was constructed. It consisted in the beginning of 18 wards with 237 beds. Today it is a premier Government hospital in the State, and renders medical aid in almost all types of specialised treatment. In 1977 there were 1,292 beds.
The following statement gives the statistics of patients treated with bed strength since 1920 for a few years:—
Year |
Patients treated |
Beds |
|
Indoor |
Outdoor |
Males |
Females |
1920 |
7,833 |
34,440 |
228 |
68 |
1930 |
8,971 |
44,278 |
287 |
92 |
1940 |
9,877 |
50,503 |
249 |
116 |
1950 |
14,557 |
1,17,323 |
353 |
125 |
1960 |
5,366 |
44,278 |
332 |
146 |
1970 |
34,574 |
6,98,769 |
606 |
544 |
1980 |
5,18,272 |
9,70,931 |
1314 |
The J. J. Group of Hospitals consists of two other hospitals, viz., B. J. Hospital for Children and Sir C. J. Opthalmic Hospital. All these hospitals are situated in one compound. Attached to the hospital is a full-fledged medical college, the famous Grant Medical College,(For details see Chapters 2 and 15.) conducting courses leading to degree and post-graduate degree in medicine and surgery. The hospital and college received immense encouragement from enlightened Indians like Jagannath Shankarshet and Bhau Daji Lad, the latter being one of its first medical graduates.
G. T. Hospital : The Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital owes its existence to an outcry raised in 1868 for a second hospital for Indian nationals. The construction of the building was commenced in 1870 with the munificent donation from Gokuldas Tejpal and was finally completed in 1874. In the beginning it had 120 beds. The same increased to 521 in 1980.
In what follows are given the statistics regarding the patients treated since 1920 with number of beds :—
|
Patients treated |
Beds |
Year |
Indoor |
Outdoor |
Males |
Females |
1920 |
4,388 |
12,274 |
100 |
20 |
1930 |
5,182 |
20,725 |
180 |
20 |
1940 |
5,141 |
34,559 |
100 |
36 |
1950 |
7,789 |
53,898 |
156 |
76 |
1960 |
4,311 |
26,297 |
230 |
100 |
1980 |
1,75,200 |
2,42,300 |
521 |
There were 13 doctors and 167 nurses working in the hospital during 1977.
Cama and Albless Hospital : The Pestanji H. Cama Hospital for Women and Children with which are connected the B. E. Albless Obstetric Hospital and J. S. Dispensary originated in a movement commenced in 1882 to afford medical assistance to Indian women. In the following year Shri P. H. Cama offered a donation for creation of a hospital and Government granted a suitable land on Esplanade for hospital known as the Cama Hospital. The foundation stone of the hospital was laid in 1883 and the hospital was opened in 1886. In 1886 the dispensary was attached to the hospital and Albless Obstetric Hospital in 1890. These three wings now form one hospital financed and managed by Government.
In the following are given the statistics of patients treated since 1930 for a few years :—
|
Patients treated |
Beds |
Year |
Indoor |
Outdoor |
Females |
1930 |
5,087 |
|
150 |
1940 |
6,059 |
|
155 |
1950 |
8,132 |
40,632 |
155 |
1960 |
3,703 |
14,597 |
163 |
1980 |
96,000 |
78,000 |
367 |
Besides, there are two Government hospitals, one homoeopathic situated at Irla and the other ayurvedic, viz., M. A. Podar Ayurvedic Hospital situated at Worli. The hospitals for the police personnel are situated at Naigaum and Nagpada.
Employees' State Insurance Scheme : The Employees' State Insurance Scheme was passed by Parliament in 1948. It covers industrial workers of all non-seasonal factories using power and employing more than 20 workers. Workers drawing pay upto Rs. 1,000 per month are covered under this scheme. The medical facilities are provided by the State Government, and include outdoor patient treatment, specialist examination, hospitalisation, maternity benefits and ambulance service. Hospitalisation facilities are extended to the insured persons through five hospitals situated at Parel, Worli, Andheri, Kandivli and Mulund. The details of the four hospitals for 1980 are shown in the following statement :—
Name of Hospital |
No. of beds |
No. of patients treated 1980 |
No. of doctors |
No. of nurses |
|
|
Indoor |
Outdoor |
|
|
1.ESIS Hospital,Worli. |
550 |
12,000 |
15,500 |
64 |
161 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.ESIS Hospital,Andheri. |
650 |
18,000 |
40,000 |
80 |
193 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.ESIS Hospital,Mulund. |
650 |
20,060 |
1,63,700 |
98 |
156 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.ESIS Hospital,Kandivli. |
300 |
1,800 |
2500 |
47 |
83 |
Municipal Hospitals : The Bombay Municipal Corporation is the biggest local authority in India providing six major hospitals for its populace. These are the K.E.M. Hospital, Parel; B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, Bombay Central; L.T.M. General Hospital, Sion; Kasturba Hospital, Jacob Circle; Group of T.B. Hospitals, Sewri; and Sheth A. J. B. Municipal E.N.T. Hospital, Fort. Of these hospitals, the first three provide facilities for medical education. The details of these institutions are given below :
K. E. M. Hospital: The King Edward Memorial Hospital, Parel, was started in 1926, the building being constructed at a cost of Rs. 43,86,000. The bed strength of the hospital during 1930 was 354 including 145 beds for females. This strength increased to 1,595 in 1980.
There are a number of departments, the major being pathology, bacteriology, pharmacology, surgery, medicine, preventive and social medicine, radiology, orthopaedic, neurology, cardiology, gynaecology and obstetrics. Besides, the hospital also runs a leprosy clinic conducted under the Greater Bombay Leprosy Control Scheme, a diabetic clinic, a family planning centre, a school clinic and a blood bank. The following statement shows the position regarding patients treated, beds, etc., during a few years from 1951 :—
|
Patients treated |
Beds |
Year |
Indoor |
Outdoor |
|
1951 |
19,148 |
1,56,888 |
510 |
1961 |
38,197 |
2,66,879 |
756 |
1971 |
60,079 |
3,78,015 |
1,450 |
1980 |
55,380 |
3,69,568 |
1,595 |
The Seth Gordhandas Sundardas Medical College is attached to the hospital. It admits 160 students every year.
B. Y. L. Nair Hospital : The management of this hospital was taken over by the Bombay Municipality in 1946.
The large central clinical laboratory, blood bank, full-fledged X-ray department, eye bank, school health clinic, medical check-up centre function in the hospital. The statistics of patients treated and number of beds are shown in the following statement :—
|
Patients treated |
Beds |
Year |
Indoor |
Outdoor |
|
1951 |
10,036 |
62,973 |
250 |
1961 |
22,506 |
1,32,204 |
336 |
1971 |
32,964 |
2,49,329 |
713 |
1980 |
45,070 |
10,22,050 |
830 |
The Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital Dental College are attached to this hospital.
L.T.M. General Hospital: The Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion, formerly known as the Indian Military Hospital and popularly known as the Sion Hospital was taken over by the Corporation in 1946, and in the following year, the Dharavi Municipal Group of Hospitals was started there with 50 beds. In 1958 the hospital was renamed as the Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital.
It is now a full-fledged hospital with 783 beds including 306 for females in 1977.
Various kinds of facilities and specialised sections such as clinical laboratory, blood bank, child welfare centre, post-natal clinic, check-up centre, family planning centre, eye bank etc. have been provided at this hospital. Under the paying patient's scheme, which was started in 1951, 50 beds have been provided for poor patients. Ten beds are reserved for B.E.S.T. workers.
In regard to patients treated the following statement shows the statistical position for a few years since 1951 :—
|
Patients treated |
Beds |
Year |
Indoor |
Outdoor |
|
1951 |
9,426 |
51,431 |
300 |
1961 |
25,566 |
1,51,850 |
370 |
1971 |
44,646 |
2,53,010 |
50 |
1980 |
52,713 |
2,97,009 |
984 |
The Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College attached to the hospital was started in 1964. During 1976-77 the strength of the college was 315.
The strength of medical personnel in the hospital comprised of 266 doctors and 522 nurses in 1977.
Kasturba Hospital : The Kasturba Hospital situated on the Sane Guruji Marg, formerly known as the City Fever Hospital which was opened in 1892, is maintained for admission and treatment of all cases suffering from infectious diseases. It also imparts instruction to undergraduates and post-graduates and to student nurses.
The paying bed scheme was introduced in 1965. In 1977 total number of beds available for patients was 680. The hospital has paediatric wards, pathology laboratory and X-ray department, clinical laboratory and welfare centre. In the following is given the statistics of admissions and the number of beds in the hospital :—
Year |
Total admissions |
Beds |
1951 |
6,726 |
314 |
1961 |
25,073 |
314 |
1971 |
31,749 |
680 |
During 1977, total number of indoor patients treated was 18,092 as against 11,304 outdoor patients. The medical and nursing staff numbered 50 and 201, respectively.
E.N.T. Hospital : The Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital situated near the Hutatma Chowk was opened in 1962. It is a specialised hospital rendering medical and surgical treatment to patients suffering from ear, nose and throat diseases. It provides facilities of radiological and sample pathological investigations, operation theatre, and endiology clinic. During 1980 the bed strength of this hospital was 100.
Group of T. B. Hospitals : The Group of T. B. Hospitals, Sewri, was established in 1948 by amalgamating the Maratha Hospital, the Turner Sanatorium and the R. P. T. B. Hospital. Facilities such as out patients department, X-ray, operation theatre and laboratory are available in the hospital. The bed strength during 1980 was put at 1,330. Clinical teaching in tuberculosis is imparted to undergraduate medical students of G. S. Medical College, L. T. M. Medical College and D. P. H. students of the Bombay University.
In the following is given the number of patients treated in the hospital since 1955 for a few years :—
|
1955 |
1960 |
1965 |
1970 |
1980 |
In-patients |
2,260 |
2,339 |
5,934 |
N.A |
11,538 |
Beds |
348 |
458 |
800 |
830 |
1,330 |
Besides the present bed strength of 1,330 provided in the hospital, 350 beds are hired from private hospitals for tuberculosis patients by the Corporation. The four T. B. clinics situated at Princess Street, Foras Road, Dadar and Khar serve as diagnostic centres for pulmonary tuberculosis patients and treatment centres. These centres also serve as outpatient departments for admission to the Group of T. B. Hospitals, Sewri or Sarvodaya Hospital, Ghatkopar.
Besides the above hospitals, the Municipal Corporation conducts the following other general hospitals :—
Ward No. |
Name of hospital |
Location |
Bed strength (1977) |
|
|
|
|
H |
K. B. Bhabha Hospital |
Bandra |
165 |
H |
Municipal General Hospital |
Santa Cruz |
104 |
K |
Dr. R.N.Cooper Municipal General |
Vile Parle |
520 |
L |
H.K.Bhabha Hospital |
Kurla |
178 |
M |
D.M.Mehta hospital |
Chembur |
70 |
N |
S. V. C. Gandhi and M. A. Vora |
Ghatkopar |
516 |
P |
Haji Bapu General Hospital |
Malad |
110 |
R |
H.B.Municipal general Hospital |
Borivali |
300 |
T |
S.M.T. Agarwal Muncipal General |
Mulund (W) |
128 |
|
Muncipal General Hospital |
Mulund (E) |
100 |
The Corporation has also reserved beds in the hospitals managed by charitable trusts. The number of beds reserved are : 20 beds in S. B. C. J. General Hospital, Santa Cruz ; 16 beds in Holy Spirit Hospital, Andheri (E); 600 beds in Sarvodaya Hospital, Ghatkopar (W) ; and 50 beds in S. K. Patil Arogyadham, Malad, thus making a total of 7,209 beds in 1977 in all municipal hospitals.
Trusts Hospitals : Medical needs of people of Greater Bombay are also met with by the big private hospitals. These hospitals are mostly run by the trusts. The details of some of these hospitals are given below :
Acworth Leprosy Hospital : The hospital situated at Wadala was established in 1890 to mitigate the nuisance caused by vagrant leprosy patients infesting the streets and public places in Bombay and to provide a shelter to these patients. The present hospital started functioning as Homeless Leper Asylum, Matunga by the initiative and untiring efforts of late Mr. H. A. Acworth, the then Municipal Commissioner of Bombay. In 1904 the name of the hospital was changed to Acworth Leper Asylum and in 1956 it was again changed to Acworth Leprosy Hospital. The expenditure is shared by the Government and the Corporation in the proportion of number of the non-Bombay domiciled and Bombay domiciled patients, respectively.
Total cases of leprosy treated in the hospital since 1970 are shown below:—
|
1970 |
1973 |
1976 |
Indoor |
872 |
820 |
720 |
Outdoor |
13,746 |
16,224 |
19,340 |
The hospital provided, in 1976, 500 beds, 342 for males and 158 for females. The staff working in the hospital included 17 doctors during 1976.
Teaching facilities for the medical graduates in leprosy are provided by the hospital.
The hospital provides various types of occupations of supervisory, skilled and unskilled nature for the in-patients who are paid monthly wages.
Greater Bombay Leprosy Control Scheme : This scheme financed by the Municipal Corporation, the Government and the Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation in equal share came into existence in 1955 with the aim and objective to control leprosy in Greater Bombay through survey, education and treatment. Upto 1959 it was under the control of the Municipal Corporation and now works under the control and management of Acworth Leprosy Hospital. During 1977 there were 9 clinics in Greater Bombay working under this scheme.
B. J. Wadia Hospital for Children : This hospital situated at Parel was opened in 1929 at the cost of Rs. 16,67,150 of which Municipal Corporation contributed Rs. 7,00,000. Today it is managed by a board of management.
In the beginning it had 126 beds which increased to 250 beds in 1976. There are medical, surgical, orthopaedic, plastic surgery, X-ray, pathology, social service, orthopaedic appliances, physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments in the hospital. A child welfare centre, a well baby clinic, a skin bank as well as a burns research unit are also run by the hospital. A child guidance centre controlled by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences was started in this hospital in 1948. In what follows are given the statistics of patients treated since 1930 :—
|
1930 |
1940 |
1950 |
1960 |
1970 |
Beds |
126 |
135 |
135 |
174 |
250 |
Patients treated— |
|
|
|
|
|
Indoor |
926 |
2,417 |
2,684 |
3,833 |
5,666 |
Outdoor |
9,166 |
50,474 |
80,744 |
1,20,261 |
65,655 |
During 1976, 6,535 in-patients and 65,663 out-patients were treated in the hospital.
The hospital had received recognition by the Royal College of Surgeons of London for F. R. C. S. in 1948, by the Royal College of Physicians of London for D. C. H. in 1947, and by the Bombay University for post-graduate courses in 1943. In 1964 it was included in the Bombay paediatric project sponsored by the UNICEF.
Bhatia General Hospital : This hospital situated at Tardeo, was started in 1932 by some industrialists. Originally it was meant for the Bhatia community only, but with the passage of time it was opened to all sections of population.
The hospital runs at present departments like surgical, medical, pathology, radiology, gynaec, ENT, paediatric and dermatological, besides an operation theatre. In the beginning it had only 25 beds which increased to 125 in 1973. During 1971 it treated 4,016 patients as against 4,218 patients, in 1976. The strength of doctors and nurses in 1976 was 11 and 45, respectively.
Bombay Hospital : Realising the difficulties of sick and suffering patients coming from upcountry in obtaining admission in private and public hospitals, Mr. R. D. Birla, the well-known industrialist, donated a large sum and amalgamated the P. A. Singhania Hindu Hospital Trust and the Marwadi Medical Relief Society to form a new trust, viz., the Bombay Hospital Trust which constructed in 1950 a new hospital with the help of donations.
The hospital, situated near Metro Cinema theatre, had in the beginning a bed capacity of 280 which increased to 625 in 1976. Of these 293 beds were paying beds. The number ofpatients treated during 1967, 1971 and 1976 are shown below :—
|
1967 |
1971 |
1976 |
Beds |
415 |
402 |
625 |
Patients treated- |
|
|
|
Indoor |
10,399 |
9,105 |
16,402 |
Outdoor |
94,872 |
93,947 |
1,30,364 |
The hospital has as many as 26 departments such as medicine, cardiology, surgery, ENT, obstetrics and gynaecology, out-patients, casualty, etc. Besides there are five operation theatres, a family planning centre, and an intensive cardiac care unit. The medical research centre with 200 beds was opened in 1972. The hospital also carries out laboratory investigations and provides for highly specialised medical and surgical treatmenti. It is one of the best equipped hospitals in Bombay enjoying national reputation.
The Bombay University has recognised nine units of this hospital for post-graduate studies.
During 1976 there were 97 honoraries working in the hospital, whereas resident medical doctors and nurses numbered 87 and 304, respectively.
Children's Orthopaedic Hospital : To provide orthopaedic and physiotherapy treatment for patients afflicted with poliomyelitis and other forms of crippling conditions, the Society for Rehabilitation of Crippled Children started a clinic in 1947. With the expansion in its activities a new building was constructed in 1950. It now provides treatment to children suffering from orthopaedic diseases and poliomyelitis upto 17 years of age.
Today the hospital is equipped with an operation theatre, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, X-ray, psychology and psychiatry departments. A cerebral palsy unit was established in 1963 with assistance from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare of the U. S. A. The hospital provides training facilities to medical graduates. The work done by the hospital is shown below for a few years :—
|
1965 |
1969 |
1973 |
1976 |
Cases seen— |
|
|
|
|
Indoor and outdoor |
1,648 |
1,193 |
1,196 |
1,535 |
Patients admitted |
333 |
348 |
373 |
409 |
Operations performed |
516 |
596 |
559 |
680 |
The number of physio-therapists and occupational therapists working in the hospital in 1976 was nine and seven, respectively.
Holy Spirit Hospital : The Holy Spirit Hospital, Andheri, was started in 1966. It is a general hospital with bed strength of 100 serving a population spread over Andheri and Jogeshvari areas.
The hospital has regular wards such as medical, surgical, gynaecology, paediatric, opthalmic, orthopaedic, ENT, etc. In the following is given the number of patients treated in the hospital since 1971 for a few years :—
|
1971 |
1973 |
1975 |
Indoor patients |
1,661 |
2,298 |
2,488 |
Outdoor patients |
|
|
|
Free |
6,824 |
8,223 |
94,591 |
paying |
19,421 |
23,710 |
N.A |
During 1976, 2,746 indoor and 97,363 outdoor patients were treated. The hospital staff includes 5 resident doctors and 39 nurses.
Harkisondas Narottumdas Hospital : Sir Harkisondas Narottumdas Hospital, popularly known as the Harkisondas Hospital at Girgaum, was established in 1925 with the help of donations from Sir Harkisondas Narottumdas. Started with 40 beds it is, at present, one of the biggest trust hospitals with 351 beds in 1976 at its disposal.
There are well equipped departments such as pathology, medicine, surgery, orthopaedic, neurology, opthalmology, dental, gynaecology, operation theatre, X-ray, family planning, intensive cardiac care unit, out-patients unit, blood bank, nutritions, artificial kidney unit, etc. It provides teaching facilities for housemen and registrars and also runs a college for nurses. Recently it has been recognised for post-graduate and Ph.D. courses by the University of Bombay.
Today the hospital employs nearly 750 hands including 15 medical officers and 40 residential staff. In the following is shown the work done by the hospital since 1971 for a few years :—
|
1971 |
1973 |
1975 |
Patients treated— |
|
|
|
Indoor |
8,692 |
8,973 |
9,114 |
Outdoor |
6,282 |
8,918 |
13,424 |
Jaslok Hospital : The Jaslok Hospital, managed by the Jasoti Lokumal and Mulchand Charities Trust, was established at Cumballa Hill in 1973. It has various departments such as medicine, surgery, ENT, opthalmology, cardiology, dental, gynaecology, obstetrics, etc. The out-patient department has a referal system similar to a system followed by the Mayo Clinic in the U. S. A. It has provided the latest form of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for treatment of cancer. There is one multi-patient artificial kidney unit in addition to an intensive care unit, the largest unit in the country. It is one of the best equipped hospitals with a reputation all over India.
Upto 1974, 6,219 and 3,306 outdoor and indoor patients were treated in the hospital.
During 1976, 16,402 indoor and 1,30,364 outdoor patients were treated in the hospital. During the same period there were 625 beds, of which no charges were levied for 332 beds. The number of doctors and nurses working in the hospital was 188 and 304.
Nanavati Hospital : This hospital was opened in 1950 at Vile Parle with a bed capacity of 50. Various departments like pathology, X-ray, casualty, ayurvedic, occupational therapy, etc. have been provided in the hospital. A casualty section works round the clock in this hospital for the western suburbs people. Besides, there is a family planning section, an immunisation section and a diagnostic centre, the last being for the benefit of workers under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
The hospital is recognised by the Bombay University for post-graduate teaching of general medicine, gynaecology and obstetrics, and by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for FCPS in medicine and general surgery, diploma in family planning, etc. It is also recognised by the Maharashtra Nursing Council for training of nurses.
In the following is given information regarding patients treated in the hospital for a few years :—
|
1952-60 |
1965 |
1970 |
|
|
|
|
Indoor cases |
34,319 |
7,363 |
10,354 |
Outdoor cases |
4,11,286 |
74,429 |
91,770 |
Tata Memorial Hospital : The Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, was established in 1941 by the trustees of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Bombay, with the object of treating cancer and allied diseases. In 1957 the hospital was given as a national gift to the Government of India, and was placed under the control of the Ministry of Health, and subsequently it was transferred to the Department of Atomic Energy. The radiation medicine centre, a wing of the atomic energy was housed in the Tata Memorial Centre to facilitate treatment of cancer patients. The Indian Cancer Research Centre was established in 1952, and during 1967 this unit was amalgamated with the Tata Memorial Hospital. Now this hospital and the Cancer Research Centre form the two units of the Tata Memorial Centre, which has done pioneering work in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Its work in this field is unparalleled in India.
The activities of the hospital are classified as service (patient care), education (professional and public) and research.
(1) Patient Care : The patients treated, both indoor and outdoor, number of surgical operations performed, etc. are shown in the following statement for a few years since 1941 :—
Year |
No.of new patients seen |
No.of cancer cases |
No.of admissions |
No.of surgical operations |
|
|
|
|
|
1941-45 |
12,219 |
6,686 |
5,183 |
4,227 |
1951-55 |
29,249 |
14,138 |
8,341 |
7,880 |
1961-65 |
51,571 |
27,092 |
10,754 |
17,522 |
1970-71 |
14,229 |
N.A |
3,062 |
10,388 |
1975-76 |
15,145 |
N.A |
5,030 |
8,942 |
During 1976-77 there were 5,344 admissions. From 100 beds in the beginning the bed strength increased to 210 in 1976. No fee is charged for 68 per cent of the total beds.
The routine activities of the hospital are undertaken in nine departments including department of social service and rehabilitation. There is also a blood bank.
(2) Education : The hospital staff actively participates in seminars, meetings conducted in medical institutions both within the country and abroad. Members of the staff are recognised teachers of the Bombay University and conduct regular courses of lectures for post-graduate students. The strength of the staff of the hospital in the beginning was 120 which rose to 186 including 74 doctors in 1976.
(3) Research : The hospital closely collaborates in research activities with the Cancer Research Institute. Clinical research studies in the methods of treatment to improve survival rate have been pursued ; immunological studies in oral cancer have been initiated and retrospective case control studies of cancer of oesophagus and cancer of female breast have been undertaken to study the role of certain suspected factors. It has been recognised by the Bombay University as a teaching centre for postgraduate students for M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees.
Shushrusha Citizen's Co-operative Hospital : The principle of cooperation was practised by some of the doctors and they established the Shushrusha Hospital at Dadar in 1964. It is managed by a board of directors, and its membership includes doctors and non-doctors.
The hospital is a modern institution and caters to the needs of people and provides facilities such as consultation, treatment, medical and surgical facilities, laboratory and X-ray and other special investigations. It also runs a drug store where medicines are sold at reasonable rates. It also runs a maternity home at Vikhroli.
The work done by the hospital and the maternity home, for a few years, is shown below :—
Particulars |
Year |
|
1971-72 |
1973-74 |
Main Hospital: |
|
|
Consultations |
5,171 |
6,159 |
Admissions |
2,233 |
2,354 |
Operations |
1,247 |
1,394 |
|
|
|
Vikhroli Unit |
|
|
Registration |
503 |
560 |
Admissions |
626 |
634 |
Operations |
170 |
170 |
Deliveries |
437 |
536 |
Central Government Health Scheme: To provide medical relief to the employees belonging to the Central Government and their families staying in Bombay, the Government of India started a scheme in 1963 by opening six dispensaries in South Bombay. During 1974 this strength increased to 15 in addition to one specialists' out-patient department to cover 36,000 Central Government servants residing south of Andheri and Ghatkopar.
These dispensaries were located at Ballard Estate, Bandra, Byculla, Churchgate, Colaba, Ghatkopar, Juhu, Koliwada, Mahim, Malabar Hill, Opera House, Peddar Road, Santa Cruz, Wadala and Worli. Facilities for consultation and free supply of medicines are provided by these dispensaries. A specialists' centre provides consultation by specialists and is equipped with facilities such as X-ray, laboratory, minor operation theatre. Other cases requiring further treatment are referred to the State Government hospitals, the Bombay Hospital, the Nanavati Hospital and the Shushrusha Hospital. Beneficiaries are not required to spend money for the services received by them.
During 1974 there were 55 medical officers and 275 class III and IV staff employed in these dispensaries and specialists' centre. Expenditure incurred under the scheme per family per year came to about Rs. 140. During 1973-74 the total expenditure was to the tune of Rs. 45 lakhs. During the same period 8,29,174 patients were treated.
BARC Hospital : From 1965 to 1975 the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Hospital was located in the premises of the J. J. Hospital, Byculla. In 1976 the BARC Hospital at Deonar was commissioned with five wards and a bed strength of 110. The hospital has 12 departments. The details of patients treated are given in the following":—
Year |
Patients treated |
|
Indoor |
Outdoor |
1967 |
1,250 |
14,134 |
1970 |
1,675 |
21,932 |
1973 |
1,930 |
22,401 |
1976 |
3,905 |
33,051 |
This hospital caters to the needs of about 15,000 employees of the Department of Atomic Energy.
There are also hospitals run by some of the Government organisations like the Railways, the Navy and the Bombay Port Trust for the benefit of their employees. The Central Railway runs a hospital situated at Byculla which was started in 1926. During 1977 the bed strength was 315. The other railway hospital managed by the Western Railway is known as the Jagjivan Ram Hospital located at Bombay Central. A hospital was started in 1964 by the Indian Navy at Powai. Amongst semi-Government organisations providing medical facilities for their employees mention may be made of the Bombay Port Trust, which provides a hospital with 160 beds. This hospital was started in 1968 and is located at Wadala (E).
Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing : The Institute is one of the oldest and leading medical research institutes in India and had its origin in 1896 when plague broke out in epidemic form in Bombay.
It has made important contributions in the field of medical research such as studies in the epidemiology of plague, standardisation of plague and cholera vaccine, development of lyophilised polyvalent antivenin against common poisonous snakes in India, etc. It has also made contribution towards the development of technology of production of biologicals.
This Institute, controlled by the Government of Maharashtra, has recently been converted into an autonomous body. Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing is the successor organisation of the former institute. The present organisation was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and started functioning as an independent body from September 1975.
The institute is entrusted with the work such as to study, investigate and improve the means of preventing and curing communicable diseases of man and animals, to conduct research on vital problems of medical field, to provide education in preventive and curative medicines to the medical personnel, to examine clinical specimens, to undertake testing of drugs, to advise various authorities in preventing the infectious diseases, etc.
Researches at this institute are carried out in bacteriology, immunology, chemotherapy, virology, biochemistry, chemical pathology, pharmacology, zoonosis and immuno-haematology. It is affiliated to the Universities of Bombay, Pune, Baroda, Nagpur, Marathwada and Konkan Krishi Vidyapith for the post-graduate teaching and research in medical sciences. During 1976, 134 seats were provided for post-graduate studies. For certificate courses in bioassay and drug analysis it admits 32 students every year. It is also recognised by the University Grants Commission. Scientists of other institutes and industries are provided short term training. In respect of testing, clinico-pathological, histo-pathological and biochemical tests are carried out at this institute. A mobile van for collecting blood from patients suspected to be suffering from typhoid fever within limits of Greater Bombay has been in operation. Samples received from private pharmaceutical companies are tested on payment.
This Institute is recognised as a reference and training centre by the World Health Organisation. A library of the institute is the oldest medical library in India having 18,000 volumes and 200 periodicals.
Dispensaries : For the benefit of the citizens of this metropolis the Municipal Corporation has set up a net work of free dispensaries. These dispensaries have proved very useful fo rtreatment of minor ailments. In recent years there has been over-crowding at the out-patient departments of the municipal general hospitals, making it difficult to medical staff to pay proper attention to each patient. The overcrowding at ,the out-patient departments is due to attendance of large number of patients requiring only dispensary treatment. With a view to relieving the general hospitals of heavy load of patients, the Corporation has upgraded some of its dispensaries by providing facilities of screening and routine laboratory investigations.
There is a steady increase in the number of free dispensaries in Bombay. During 1920, there were only 12 dispensaries which treated 77,963 new cases. This, however, increased considerably since then as can be seen from the following statement :—
Year |
No of Dispensaries |
New cases treated |
1931 |
13 |
87,814 |
1941 |
16 |
1,98,350 |
1951 |
24 |
2,55,835 |
1961 |
27 + 1 mobile dispensary |
6,03,278 |
1971 |
80 +15 mobile dispensaries |
27,10,545 |
During 1977 there was as many as 124 dispensaries,their ward wise break-up was as follows:-
Ward |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F/S |
F/N |
G/N |
G/S |
Dispensaries |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ward |
H |
|
K |
L |
M |
N |
P |
R |
T |
Dispensaries |
11 |
|
9 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
12 |
6 |
2 |
Of 124 dispensaries, ayurvedic and unani dispensaries numbered two each and were situated in G-North ward and B ward, respectively.
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