The Seth Rustamji Dhunjibhai Tarachand Parsi General Hospital in Surat is set to be renovated and revived by Tata Trusts, according to a report in The Indian Express (IE) dated June 21, 2019. According to IE, "Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, accepted the request of the Parsi community in the city for funds to renovate and expand the medical facility which has fallen into neglect.”
(Above) Façade of Surat’s Parsi General Hospital and (inset) entrance
arch to the facility:"to be renovated and revived"
Located in a once Parsi-dominated Shahpore area of Surat, the Hospital which will complete a century next year, has a capacity of 20 beds, stated the news report. "Except a few senior citizens who come for regular treatment, most people in the area prefer to go to private hospitals with better facilities,” noted IE. The Hospital, that stands on 53,000 sq ft of land and is therefore capable of being expanded, is run by the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP), said the news report.
SPP chairman Jamshed Dotivala was quoted in the IE report as stating: "We are happy that our proposal for the revival of the Hospital has received a positive response from Ratan Tata.” He added that while they had sought support to upgrade the Hospital, "if they (Tata Trusts) want to run the Hospital, we have no objection.” The upgraded Hospital will be a 100-bed multi speciality facility with two new buildings housing intensive care units, laboratory and other medical facilities, Dotivala was quoted in IE. He added that the overall cost is expected to be Rs 115 crores. "As soon as the project is approved and funds are allotted, the renovation work will begin,” Dotivala reportedly said. He added that the construction is estimated to be completed in about two years. The facility is expected to serve a cosmopolitan clientele.
A Shahpore resident, Roman Ilaviya is credited in the news report as having taken up the cause of revitalizing the Hospital with the SPP and Ratan Tata.