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The newly inaugurated Zarin Neville Sarkari Neurosurgery Department of the Dorabji Nanabhoy Mehta Sarvajanik Hospital (DNMSH) in Navsari will reduce the need to transfer patients to bigger cities for complicated procedures. "Before starting the unit, we used to transfer one or two such cases weekly to Surat or other cities… Those surgeries can now be performed at our Hospital,” honorary secretary Rohinton Contractor told Parsiana on May 10, 2022.
The Department was inaugurated on April 29, thanks to a donation of Rs 2.25 crores (USD 288,954) from US based businessman and philanthropist Neville Sarkari in memory of his late wife. The Zarin Neville Sarkari Foundation, USA had, in 2016, assisted the Hospital with Rs 1.27 crores (USD 163,104) for the establishment of a computed tomography (CT) scan unit. Earlier, The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital in Bombay was able to enhance care for renal patients thanks to the provision of two dialysis units by the Foundation (see "PGH dialysis facility,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, March 7-20, 2022). That donation marked the 20th death anniversary of Sarkari’s mother Homai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rates for neurological procedures are fixed on the basis of category of rooms selected, Contractor stated, but "patients admitted in the Parsi ward will get special discounts which will be analyzed on case to case basis… We have a poor Parsi patient relief fund from which all deserving patients staying in the Parsi ward are given relief based on the criteria decided by the management… The same benefits will be passed on to Parsi patients undergoing neurosurgery.”
Neville was felicitated by Hospital chairman Malcolm Mehta with flowers, a shawl and a memento. Guest of honor Sheriyar Sarkari, Neville’s son, was felicitated by trustee and honorary secretary Dinyar Mehta. Dr K. C. Jain, head of neurosurgery was felicitated by Contractor. "All managing committee members felicitated senior trustee Farrokh Mehta,” stated a note from Contractor. Malcolm, in his speech, complimented the entire team behind the project and conveyed gratitude to the Sarkari family.
Neville said that he was "impressed by the transparency, periodic updates and humble approach by the management during progression of both the projects.” He spoke about various ups and downs in his life which inspired him to turn towards philanthropy, noted the write-up. Sheriyar appreciated the progress of the Hospital and described how, as a child, he was impressed on reading the names of various donors on the plaque at the Hospital!
Trustee Dara Deboo narrated details of the philanthropy of community members who established various institutions in healthcare sectors and education, and their contribution to the development of Navsari.
Contractor’s vote of thanks included mention of, in addition to the Sarkari family and the Hospital staff, Jehangir Shroff, trustee of the Foundation. A jashan at the Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Agiary and lunch at Jamshed Baug followed.
Established on January 15, 1915 as a lying-in hospital with a 44-bed capacity catering to the needs of the Parsi community alone, DNMSH has evolved into a cosmopolitan 136-bed multispecialty hospital with departments of medicine, surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, ENT (ear, nose throat), pediatrics, pathology, radiology, dialysis, ICU, dentistry as well as its own cardiac ambulance and morgue. When the Parsi population began to decline, the farsighted trustees converted the institution into a cosmopolitan hospital, though there is a special ward for Parsis at subsidized rates. The Hosptial has joined hands with Parzor Foundation and the WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trust Funds to provide cashless treatment to Parsis of southern Gujarat under the Jiyo Parsi program.