Though the proposed Shroff Medical Centre of The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital (PGH) did not fructify despite a generous pledge of USD 22.5 millions (Rs 168 crores) from Pervin and Jal Shroff of Hong Kong, the couple have kindly sent a donation of Rs 5.78 crores to the PGH to cover the "preliminary and pre-operative” costs incurred for the aborted project. Revenue from the proposed cosmopolitan hospital was to subsidize the losses on the Parsi-only PGH.
In a communique to the Parsi Press on July 24, PGH president Homa Petit noted, the proposal was "reluctantly withdrawn by the donors in view of administrative bureaucracy, legal challenges and disruptive opposition from some members of our community. The management had incessantly worked on this project for over three years and had incurred preliminary and pre-operative expenditure of Rs 5,78,84,023.76, a part of which at Rs 1,45,09,500 was earlier shared by the donors.
Pervin and Jal Shroff Photos: Jasmine D. Driver
"At the request of the management of PGH, the donors have now magnanimously reimbursed the entire balance incurred by PGH.
In an e-mail to Parsiana dated July 24, Jal noted, "Pervin and I wish to apologize to the less fortunate, destitute, sick and infirm members of our community that we failed in our efforts to build a new hospital on the grounds of the existing PGH. The income derived from the new hospital would have been shared by the existing PGH, which would have helped to revitalize and ensure that the PGH would remain exclusively for our community for the foreseeable future.
"As far as the existing PGH we wish it well, but recommend that the members of the executive committee (EC) discuss and implement a realistic succession plan (no disrespect to Homa and Aban Petit who over the last many years have done an outstanding job); co-opt young, dynamic professionals from our community onto the EC (the excuse that no one is interested to join the EC is unacceptable); streamline the administration (innovation must not be stifled by the diehards); allow prominent upcoming Parsi doctors more say in the running and future direction of the Hospital (at least three or four young Parsi doctors should be brought onto the EC to infuse fresh ideas and new perspective).
"We bear no ill will towards our detractors — we leave our community as a whole to judge their motives, actions and long-term consequences.”
The Shroffs noted their involvement with PGH started in 1983 "when we received a personal appeal from Dr Hormusjee Mehta and our reply (written in our personal capacity) offering the possibility of a donation of USD 100,000 (Rs 74,74,375).” It has continued these past 37 years.