"Our Hospital which was earlier shunned by most affluent Parsis/Zoroastrians is now a much sought after institution as other hospitals are turning back patients… needing immediate healthcare due to pressure on their bed capacity... As a result PGH (The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital) is having almost full occupancy for the last two months… In spite of our constraints, our endeavor is to see how we can take care of as many of our people as possible,” noted an appeal from PGH president Homa Petit dated May 6, 2021 circulating on WhatsApp.
"Today we are operating with almost 140 beds full, of which 90 are for Covid patients. These include Isolation Ward, separate ICU (intensive care unit) for Covid patients, the entire Nursing Home section (where there is a high demand from affluent Parsis) and free and subsidized beds for poor and indigent patients. Almost doubling of our activities with almost the same staff has highlighted to us some key requirements in medical services. Merely having beds does not solve problems. We need required paraphernalia and manpower…” stressed Petit.
He listed six initiatives for which the PGH needed financial support of Rs 24.80 crores (USD 3,384,322): vaccination program, upgrading the radiology department with a new CT (computerized tomography) scan machine, installation of an oxygen plant, recruiting well-trained medical staff, replacing old beds with latest surgical beds and other furniture and fixtures, reinforcing the 109-year-old Victorian heritage building. Overwhelmed with offers to contribute, Petit requested large-hearted donors, especially those overseas, to check with the Hospital before remitting funds.
Having vaccinated 3,851 Zoroastrians free of charge since March 16, 2021, the executive committee plans to continue with this drive, estimating that they will need more than 60,000 doses. To procure the vaccines within a couple of months, the Hospital estimates a payment of Rs 3.60 crores (USD 490,680) for Covishield vaccines and Rs 1.20 crores (USD 163,560) for Covaxin vaccines will need to be made upfront.
Above: Aerial view of The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital;
roundel on building commemorating Bomanji Petit
Since a CT scan "is now a prerequisite for diagnosis and chest examination of all Covid patients,” the Hospital plans to invest in a CT scan machine at a cost of three crore rupees (USD 408,900), having found a donor who is ready to fund up to Rs 2.3 crores (USD 313,490). "Once we have a CT scan machine in our armory, we are sure even during normal times, PGH will have much larger footfalls,” stated Petit.
To overcome "the acute shortage of oxygen,” the Hospital has placed an order with Gascon Limited for a plant costing five crore rupees (USD 681,500) with delivery expected within 60 days. A corporate entity has offered to fund the oxygen plant from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, noted Petit. The estimated payback period of "just about four years” will ensure an "uninterrupted supply of oxygen for a long time to come.”
To attract well qualified doctors, nurses and intensivists and to take care of wage increases for unionized staff, the Hospital proposes to set up a Medical Services Fund of about five crore rupees. Although staff working with Covid patients is paid a Covid allowance, a new wage settlement is pending since January 2021. "We need to look after them at this crucial time,” Petit noted.
Refurbishing wards with new furniture and fixtures, upgraded electrical equipment, laundry machines and an air conditioning plant is expected to cost two crore rupees (USD 272,600). To reinforce the Hospital’s heritage building a capital cost of five crore rupees is envisaged.
Gratified by commendations coming their way, the Hospital’s chief executive officer Lt Gen (Dr) M. Ganguly (retd) shared with Parsiana a letter received from Neville Shroff, president of the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao, who was impressed with the positive feedback he has been receiving on "how well run and managed the Hospital is particularly at this critical time.” Yet another grateful patient discharged on May 3 hoped "all Parsis see and feel the value of this great institution.”