How people together built a doctor’s dream of affordable super-specialty hospital
It was a chance meeting between the Calcutta-based gastroenterologist, Dr Abhijit Chowdhury and Lillian Lou- a California based scientist that paved the way for a Rs 60 crore, 100 bed superspecialty hospital in Bengal. The meeting took place in a 14th century building in Barcelona, but its benefits would be enjoyed by many Indians in the future.
The Indian president dedicated to the nation the Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences(IILDS) in Sonarpur on Thursday.
One doctor’s passion
“I met professor Chowdhury during a liver disease conference in 2012. I admire his passion, dedication and determined pursuit in improving healthcare for the people of Bengal,” said Lou to the Times of India. Lou was among the first to respond to the call for financial aid by connecting Chowdhury and his team to the donors.
“I know the kind of selfless effort Chowdhury and his team have put in to give shape to their dream. It is great honour for me to find ways to support his work. It is heartfelt to witness the progressive germination of IILDS and the benefits it brings to the people who need quality healthcare,” Lou said to the newspaper.
The hospital stands on 4 acres provided by the state government. It’s expected that the hospital would provide affordable quality care for the common man. “This hospital is built with public money and is not owned by anyone. Here, the patients will pay only what they have to. In addition to treatment facilities, the institute will also be conducting research on various topics,” said Chwodhary, who is the secretary of the Liver Foundation West Bengal (LFWB) which is behind the hospital.
“We will need about two days to sanitize the hospital before we start taking in indoor patients,” said Parthasarathi Mukherjee, the project director at LFWB.
Aside from overseas funds, public sector units like Coal India and SBI and pharma companies, individuals in the Sonarpur locality too donated for the project. For instance, Gitasree Dey, a widow who lives close to the hospital made a donation of Rs 10 lakh. Subrata Dasgupta is another local who stays in the vicinity. His father passed away recently. Subrata has now pledged a donation of the amount which he would have spent on his old man’s shradh ceremony.
“This is a beginning of a journey for LFWB. Let it succeed. The government will extend whatever help it requires,” said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who attended the Thursday function with the President.
Image credits: iilds.in