Jaipur – A Historic Medic Centre
O! Lord Almighty! It is indeed a travesty of fate that my livelihood depends on the misery of others. Yet, I am privileged that you have deemed me fit for this task and provided me with the skills for alleviation of misery. O! Almighty Lord! Be merciful to my patients and grant them relief and recovery!
Maharajas Planned Jaipur As A Medic Centre From Beginning
Medicine is a noble and ancient science in India. Its practitioners are considered equal to God here. Various kinds of traditional medical practices have been prevailing in different parts of the country. From ancient times, Jaipur has been a prominent place for practice, development and growth of different kinds of medicare systems.
Traditional Practices And Value System
Traditional practices centered around learned saints and Vaids who used experience and knowledge for diagnosis and treatment. These Vaids and Hakims used varied homemade concoctions to treat all kinds of ailments.
Healthcare and healing have always been the priority for most of the rulers of Jaipur. “In ancient times, doctors used to establish a strong bond with the patient. The patient too relied on and trusted his doctor. This bonding, the heart and soul of medical practices still shows some glimpses in the city.
Traditional medicine system Unani, Homeopathy and Ayurveda
The Mughal emperors through several years of research, experience and practice tried to complement the existing Ayurveda with the Unani Hikmat system of medicine. The Hakeems with the support from the Mughal royals laid the foundation of ‘Tibia College’. One prominent name in this field was Begam Sali Muttaba, who became the first women doctor in the region to have been honoured with the title ‘Faazile–Tib’. Maharaja Madho Singh also made contributions by establishing midwifery and nursing school in the city to promote and improve healthcare.
Several scholars and practitioners of medicine from Jaipur played a critical role in taking the science to newer frontiers. History is replete with personalities like Vaidya Shankar Bhatta (Gaur) who authored a seminal treatise ‘Vaidya Vinoda’.
Jaipur played as a huge support base to Ayurveda for centuries. On national stage, Jaipur also provided a lead role in formulating the country’s policy on Ayurveda and its nationwide expansion. The State Ayurveda College was upgraded to the National Institute of Ayurveda on 7 February, 1976.
Jaipur the pink city is now a hot spot of Ayurveda. The rich culture of Jaipur has always attracted the back packers from other land but now it is the growing Ayurveda and yoga sanctuary which is being the center of attraction for different population round the globe.
Allopath gained distinct heights in Jaipur
The technological advancement in medical science gave rise to Allopathy. Computer generated images, X-rays and pathological tests became the key to Allopath system.
This English medicine system was promoted by the rulers of the city. It started with establishment of a fledging treatment dispensary, set up by the regency council in 1844. This was followed by establishing Lady Willington Hospital of 1936 (later rechristened as Sawai Man Singh Hospital or SMS Hospital). A medical college was conceptualized by Sir Mirza Ismail in 1944. Dr. S.C. Mehta, an eminent doctor of those times took the initiative to persuade the then Maharaja of Sikar who used his networking to get the SMS Medical College started in 1947. Incidentally the 1947 partition became a blessing in disguise. A large reshuffling in medical profession in North India resulted in migration of top of the line medical professionals from Lucknow, Agara and other places to Jaipur. Thus Dr. Choudhary, Dr. V.N. Sharma, Dr. R.P. Chaturvedi, Dr. B.C. Sanghal joined. All doctors later laid down the foundation of basic services in Pharmacology, Anatomy and Pathology both in teaching and research. At this juncture, Prof. R.M. Kasliwal, a member of the Subhash Chandra Bose army came at the helm of the SMS. His entry was the beginning of the future academic and research development of the SMS as an institution. Prof. L.K. Kothari of Physiology and Late Dr. Kabra of Anatomy led the Basic Science Research.
The first batch of SMS produced brilliant, dedicated doctors like Dr. Rameshwar Sharma, Dr. K.C. Kotia, Dr. Panchand Chatterjee, while Dr. Rameshwar Sharma mooted Community Medicine, Dr. Kotia initiated Cardiology and Dr. G. Narainan, Prof. of ENT significantly added to the growth of their Departments. Dr. Robert Heiling, a physician of the Royal family, made a significant contribution to the SMS Medical College by establishing one of the largest medical libraries in India.
Then came the younger toppers in Dr. V.S., Baldwa, Dr. K.S. Ratnu, who pushed Superspeciality of Cardiology and Nephrology. While Dr. J.P. Sethi became a National figure in allergy and purmonarology, Dr. S.R. Mehta, initiated Haematology, Prof. Kotia apart from his interest in Cardiology, as one of the most disciplined clinicians as the most principled doctors who never lost courage. Dr. V.S. Baldwa, Dr. V.N. Sharma, Dr. L.K. Kothari, Prof. P.K. Sethi in Orthopaedics, Dr. Narayana in ENT and Dr. K.C. Gangwal in Urology raised the bar of their specialities at the international level. Prof P.K. Sethi become a legend with the creation of "Jaipur Foot", while he created India's first rehabilitation centre, Prof. Gangwal started the urology centre. Dr. G.C. Sharma an eminent surgeon laid forundation of cardiothoracic surgery. Late Eighties and early nineties saw the growth of specialities Neurosurgery with the arrival of Dr. S.R. Dharker.
In early 2000, the dynamic Chief Minister Madam Vasundhara Raje picked up Dr. Ashok Panagariya, the leading Neurologist in the country for the Director/ Principal of SMS Medical College. An awardee of Dr. B.C. Roy Medal and later Padma Shri by President of India. He provided impetus for research through Advanced and Basic Sciences Research Labs, Stem Cell Lab, Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, HLA Lab, Genetics Lab, IVF Centre Renal Transplant Program, ART, and TB Research Centre etc. are just some new facilities added. Enhancement of newly created women’s health Care hospital- IVF/ sterility, Pediatrics – Neurology, Cardiology, Gastroentology, Neonatology, Psychiatry college and oncology integrated care and critical care/ Polytrauma hospitals were attached to SMS
The Development in Private Sector in Medical Care
With the world growing rapidly in advancements, rising population and resource limitation of the government and the precapita out of pocket expenses increasing and the number of high net worth rising Jaipur saw new ear of availability of international facilities in private. First step was the development of Santokaba Hospital by Rashmi Durlabhjee. This was followed by Monilek Kidney Hospital and operating advanced diagnostic centres. Dr. B.R. Soni took a courageous step to create Jaipour 's first corporate hospital. This has since been followed by many small & bigger hospitals.
Today, Jaipur has more than 300 hospitals including 8-10 heart institutes and total turnover of medicine is around Rs 500 crores. The city is a leading destination in the country for test-tube baby, bariatric surgery, hip and knee placements. Major corporate hospitals with research and trauma centres like Fortis and Narayan Hrudiyalay has commenced their operations providing quality heart care in the city. These facilities have been joined in by many other corporate hospitals such as Eternal Heart Care and Resource Centre, Heart and Eye hospitals are a special feature of the city. Two hospitals, one from the house of Birlas and other from Ambanis contribute to the city’s emergence as an international medical destination. Nationally accredited labs, nursing colleges and nursing homes support this infrastructure and ecosystem. Together they provide excellent Medicare putting Jaipur firmly on the international map for good Medicare.
Another landmark in the medical history of Jaipur is the Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre specializing in medical, surgical, diagnostic and radio-therapeutic branches of cancer.
Many Non-resident Indians and Non-resident Rajasthanies greatly added to the value of services in the city of Jaipur. The Non-resident Indians like Dr. Samin Sharma (Cardiologist), Dr. Pradeep Chandra (rheumatology), Dr. Praveen Singhal (Nephrology) and Dr. Sanjeev Gupta (Gastroenterologist) are the leading big names at the international level who became the part of the International Advisory Council of the SMS Medical College in 2006-07 related by Dr. Panagariya. Non-resident Rajasthanies like Dr. Rajeev Gupta set new trend in Epidemiology research in the field of Cardiology, Dr. V.S. Mehta reached heights in Neurosurgery and Dr. Shiv Sarin, the only Padma Bhushan became a top man in Gastroenterology and Dr. B.K. Goyal, the only Doctor Mayor from SMS.
The visions of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Sindhia for converting Jaipur as a medical hub and providing subsidized treatment to the poor, and the focus of chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on extending the best facilities to the marginalized families through Public Private Partnership were achieved by Dr Ashok Pangariya, eminent neurologist through their innovative PPP and cross-subsidy programmes.
Dr. Samin Sharma, renowned cardiologist, who carved a niche at the international level, from USA says "Jaipur is providing one of the best medical care in Cardiovascular, Neurology, RehabilitationUrology, Gastroenterology and Orthopedics". Many patients are traveling from other parts of the country and outside India to undergo treatment in Jaipur in these specialties Dr. Ashok Pangariya, a national icon has put Jaipur on the national and international map in the field of neurology. Numerous patients suffering from advanced come to Jaipur and receive correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
To build on the gains of the city as a centre of excellence, Yogi Durlabhji, Chairman of SDMH, says, “Now, there is a new reason for people to visit the Pink City. Jaipur is fast emerging as a hub for medical tourism. With high costs and long waiting periods for high-end medical procedures in developed nations, there has been a growing interest in medical facilities in Jaipur. The availability of top-class medical expertise of international standards at affordable prices in the hospitable atmosphere of Jaipur has promoted the inflow of medical tourists into the city.”
Dr. Ashok Panagariya, the author feels that “the need of the time is to create a balance between the excellence of services and the cost of delivery, thus Jaipur needs State of the Art Hospitals on a Cross Subsidy Model. This may help restore the lost fundamental human relationship between doctor and the patients, so important for holistic therapy.”
