Now that Jal and Pervin Shroff of Hong Kong have officially withdrawn their magnanimous financial pledge of USD 22.5 million, the management of The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital (PGH) [founded by Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit (pictured)] will have to think of other ways in which to save this institution. While most members of the community consider the withdrawal of the offer a golden opportunity wasted, a few consider it a blessing in disguise.
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The PGH is very dear to the hearts of community members in India and abroad who will stand by the management to develop the ailing institution and bring it to a level where it will rank among the best healthcare centers in the city.
As the previous plan of constructing a separate diagnostic hospital did not fructify, we must think about accommodating a diagnostic department within the spacious area of the Hospital itself. This will not only save patients from the cumbersome process of being shifted from one building to another, it will be more convenient both for them and for the doctors if diagnosis and treatment were done at the same place.
The main aim is to provide good treatment to the weaker section of the community at affordable cost. It will not be possible to run a multi facility hospital with such low occupancy and no source of income. With the continuous decline in the Parsi population, the only option is to offer services to patients from other communities. Running the institution with 30% occupancy would not only be futile but disastrous in the long run while changes in the policy will lead to full occupancy and generate more income to treat the poor and the needy.
An exclusive section in the Hospital should be reserved only for the community, with one male and one female ward and about a dozen special and some semi-special rooms. This will suffice to meet the needs of the community.
If needed, the land on which the proposed Shroff diagnostic center was to be established can be used to construct some commercial, residential or other establishments to generate a steady flow of income for the maintenance of the Hospital.
The former Harkisandas Nurrotamdas Hospital located in a crowded part of the city has been converted into the modern Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and is running to almost full capacity. Our grand PGH, with its excellent ambiance and surroundings, can be transformed into one of the best multi facility centers in Bombay.
All this will require tremendous efforts and huge expenditure. Let us keep the flag of the magnanimous Petits flying high for generations to come. The management committee of the Hospital should take expert advice of some of the best consulting firms of builders and architects for the structural changes required for this development to pursue this worthy project.
The community should appreciate and be thankful for the services we have been offered by the Petits for over a century! Now it is time for us to pay back and help to revive this most precious asset at any cost. PIROJA HOMI JOKHI
jokhi.piroja@yahoo.com