Varsh Pratipada, also called Gudi Padwa is celebrated as Hindu New Year in Maharashtra. This auspicious day happens to be the birthday of Dr. K. B. Hedgewar – the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Dr. Hedgewar was a visionary leader who took up many challenges for uniting the rifted Hindu society which had disintegrated due to caste driven politics. India is invaded by foreigners because of its fragmentation. His method of organizing Hindus and training young people to devote their prime hours and years to motherland has been carried out by some visionary doctors at Hedgewar Hospital, Aurangabad belonging to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Pratishthan. The doctors have come together to give maximum efforts of themselves to the society.
Dr. Hedgewar Hospital was established in Aurangabad in 1989. A 10-bed hospital was started in 1989 by Doctors with small borrowings from their families. And then doctors decided to manage their life on minimum income which set an example. And this is the strongest footing of this organization.
Since its inception the hospitals has treated more than 60,00,000 poor patients. The hospital treats approximately 4 lakh patients annually. Dr. Hedgewar Hospital provides excellent medical services at reasonable cost to the common man. The doctors who serve in this hospital live up the Hippocratic Oath which is one of the oldest binding documents in history, the Oath written by Hippocrates is still held sacred by all physicians. Doctors at Hedgewar Hospital serve patients in an environment of sacrifice with specialized care to poor patients to the best of their capability.
Apart from providing the best healthcare facilities, the hospital is well known for its cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control measures and has also been awarded for the hygienic best practices many times by the government.
This hospital has received amazing response from rural and urban poor because it has been strengthening the beliefs of poor in the medical services. They are cared for in this hospital. The doctors and staff dedicate their efforts to achieve the mission and vision of the hospital. The mission of the hospital is to provide services, medical and social, to common man which will be Excellent, Expanding, and Transparent and with Humanity. The hospital also strives in creating harmonious, strong, self-reliant and nationalistic society through various projects by deriving inspiration from the Sangh.
The hospital transmits a pious and compassionate ambiance. The hospital runs state of the art blood bank, a health project for the slums, rural health project and a project purely for women and child development. Due to rare combination of Quality and affordability of Health care, Ratan Tata, while inaugurating new building in 2001 said “The hospital is well equipped, without showing off its opulence. The Hospital is a project of the people, by the people and for the people. I wonder why we should not achieve similar success in other areas also!”
During Covid19 pandemic Dr Hedgewar Hospital ensured to provide an Intensive Care Unit with fully equipped 22 beds and a dedicated team of cardiologists, anaesthetists, physicians, and intensivists ( doctor who specializes in the care and treatment of patients in intensive care unit) They treated around 800 to 1000 patients who suffered from post-COVID complications.
India needs more skilled healthcare professionals and stronger infrastructure. The constitution of India requires the government to ensure the “right to health” for all. It is mandatory on the part of each state to provide free universal access to health care services; however, health care in India has been underfunded.
Dr Hedgewar Rugnalaya (DHR) is scheduled to set up a hospital in Assam by July 2022 with an investment of Rs 500 crore. Specialties in the hospital will include General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Radiology, Pathology, Intensivists, Dental Care and Dialysis among others.
According to Dr. Anant Pandhare, Medical Director, Hedgewar Hospital, Charitable hospitals can sustain themselves with support from society. He says people who wish to donate or help in setting up a hospital look for a credible organisation and credibility which is established on the values and determined application of those values. With ethical practice, honesty, and integrity, charitable hospitals can come to the fore. In addition to this, for charitable hospitals to be sustainable, there are certain challenges such as forming a dedicated team of doctors including the staff with similar visions and ideas. Mission and vision of an organization is achievable only when the employees also align with it. To control the cost of the services, management has to be vigilant.
And, last but the least, the society at large should come forward in creating and financially supporting such hospitals. In long run, having the power to improve the lives of others is a privilege. Giving reinforces our own personal values and empowers us to do better in life.
