ADEZE OJUKWU
Top Indian Urological-cum-Nephrological institution, Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital (MPUH) has concluded plans to build an ultra-modern kidney hospital, as part of its commitment to renal care and human health. Management of the hospital disclosed this in a recent media chat, saying the multi-million structure was necessitated by the escalation of kidney related diseases.
Obviously Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has become a major global concern, affecting about 10 percent of the world’s population. Sadly only few institutions, across the world, are devoted, wholly to this field of medicine. MPUH stands tall, as one of the few centers for specialised and standardised in treatment of renal and urological diseases across the world.
The kidney is, indeed, a complex and vital organ that requires special care and maintenance. Its multifarious functions in blood production, waste removal, fluid balancing and blood purification, accord it a critical position in promoting good health. Its continuous blood flow, makes it vulnerable to damages from metabolic diseases.
Sadly, kidney ailments seem to be rising according to medical reports, due to several factors, including non-communicable diseases, sedentary lifestyles and genetic factors.
The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) listed diabetes and high blood pressure, as major causes of CKD in adults. ‘Other factors include heart disease, obesity, a family history of CKD, past damage to the kidneys, and older age.’
Undoubtedly, the global burden of renal disease is huge and alarming, requiring serious short and long term interventions, especially in resource-poor nations. Today kidney failure has become a silent killer, particularly in Africa and Asia. ‘It is estimated that every five minutes, there are two deaths from kidney disease in India alone, with over 500 deaths every day.’ Renal diseases include kidney stones, kidney infection and kidney cancer.
From its humble beginnings, MPUH, Nadiad has become a leading tertiary institution, with a highly skilled medical team, latest equipment and sterling clinical outcomes. MPUH has, so far, performed about 3,300 renal transplants and 7,0000 urological surgeries, particularly stone operations, with several awards and medals, from reputable medical boards, nationally and internationally.
A tour of the center and interaction with the hospital personnel confirmed the hospital’s global reputation, as a beacon of excellence for healing, teaching and research in renal medicine.
From inception, the hospital was conceptualized as a humanitarian mission, so that no one is excluded because ‘every life matters.’ Perhaps this is the secret of the hospital’s string of successes and meteoric rise.
The Medical Director, Dr (Col) Arun Rastogi, was on hand to unveil the hospital’s unique history and founding ideals, which have in no small measure, shot the center to its current iconoclastic position. Dr Rastogi, an accomplished army doctor and administrator said: ‘Empathetic patient care is central to its existence and no patient is turned away for want of funds. Treatment is totally free for those who cannot afford it, which is in tandem with its philosophy: ‘Every Life Deserves World Class Care.’
At 42 years, MPUH has attained high international ranking, even as its patient-focused philosophy, affordable services and humanistic approach have endeared it to patients and doctors in the industry. In a relatively short span, MPUH has become a super-specialty institute for renal treatments and urological surgeries.
The story of the hospital’s unique birth is worth recounting.
In 1971, notable Dr. Virendra Desai, British-trained urologist and a graduate of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital left the shores of the United Kingdom (UK) with a pounding desire to establish a specialist urological hospital in Nadiad, his home town. This decision was his personal response to the growing demand for specialists in treatment of kidney stones and related diseases in the area.
Dr. Desai sacrificed a more lucrative and attractive opportunity abroad, to mitigate the high prevalence of kidney problems and associated diseases among his people. At that time, the country and the region lacked appropriate institutions and facilities for comprehensive management of nephrological and urological cases.
Due to the magnitude of the project and its cost, he teamed up with an astute industrialist-cum-philanthropist, Shri Jayaramdas Muljibhai Patel, to establish the hospital. Shri Jayaramdas was so enthralled by the project, that he named the hospital in honour of his late father Muljibhai Patel. ‘This partnership was not only timely, but inevitable, because of the enormous funds required to set up such a hospice, along with its structures, modern operation theater, laboratory, Intensive Care Unit(ICU), dialysis centers, as well as wage bills of paying clinicians, nurses, technologists and ancillary staff.
Despite these financial and administrative challenges, the founding team received great support from Shri Occhavlal Parikh, Shri Prahlad Patel and other kind-spirited individuals. The founder Chairman, Jairam Bhai, donated about
$100,000 to the new center, which started with just a 20-bed ward and few facilities.
Undoubtedly, the vision of Dr. Virendra, and financial support of Shri. Patel, as well as several philanthropists, who donated additional funds, land and equipment led to the accelerated birthing of the institute. Gratuitously the project also enjoyed enormous support from the community, as well as committed clinicians, nurses, technicians and personnel.
This goodwill culminated in the establishment of the hospital, which was inaugurated by then President of India Neelam Sanjiva Reddy on March 19, 1978.
However, Dr Virendra Desai died suddenly, four years after the hospital’s establishment. Despite this huge loss, Shri Jayaramdas worked tenuously to make their shared dream a reality.
With the demise of Dr Virendra, the mantle of leadership fell on another dedicated world-class urologist, Dr Mahesh Desai. Incidentally both urologists were trained by same British surgeons.
Desai teamed up with Dr Mohan Rajapurkar, a renowned nephrologist, to propel the institution to its present gigantic status.
Obviously the hospital’s towering position hangs on the shoulders of these humanitarian icons and team of highly skilled experts, whose onerous sacrifices contributed immensely to its meteoric rise. Clearly MPUH’S global influence largely stems from its compassionate roots and dedicated professionals, who consciously bear and epitomize the huge vision of the hospital in their hearts and minds.
Under the visionary leadership of the current chairman, Shri Rohit Patel, the hospital has expanded its horizons by attracting top-flight medical experts, maintaining clinical best practices, acquiring latest technology and improving infrastructural development.
This is stated in the hospital’s profile statement.
‘Our high quality management and infrastructure are complemented by a team of expert doctors led by Dr. Mahesh Desai, who provide their patients clinical services of global standard for urology and nephrology.
We have been able to offer advanced treatments and ultra-modern infrastructure to our patients with the help of philanthropic gestures from society and the trustees of the hospital. Besides investing in technology and infrastructure upkeep, we use these donations for rendering pro-bono services to those who can’t afford the treatment. ‘The cost of free treatment we have rendered so far exceeds $140,000 and we will continue to provide the best possible medical care to everyone at affordable price.’
Nadiad hospital, unarguably, parades a formidable team of world acclaimed surgeons, nephrologists, and clinicians.
First is Dr. Mahesh Desai, Managing Trustee Dr Desai, the Managing Trustee of the hospital said the robotic unit of the hospital has performed 1,300 robotic procedures in urology. ‘The hospital is poised to do more with the latest plans to build an ultra-modern 200 bed project,’ he noted. He lamented increasing incidences of renal diseases, which have become a growing national worry.
‘One in every 10 adults in India suffers from CKD, largely, due to the alarming rise in diabetes and hypertension both in India and rest of the world.’ ‘Medical records show that 40 to 60 percent of cases is due to these underlying diseases,’ Dr Desai added.
Also speaking, Dr Rajapurkar, said CKD puts the patient at risk for bone diseases, metabolic abnormalities and cardio-vascular conditions. According to him regular medical check-up is necessary for early detection and treatment. The hospital, he noted, ‘provides immunological profile assessment that helps prevent any organ rejection in transplantation cases.’ In cases of a marginal donor, detailed pre-transplant screening is provided for optimal results.
The transplant ward has an Ultrasonography (USG) machine, which expedites graft biopsy as well as timely clinical assessments, diagnosis and interventions. The medical team also holds weekly meetings to review and maintain clinical targets on transplant cases.
The hospital has a fully equipped computerized and digitalized reporting and documentation system for proper records and clinical monitoring. It maintains a high infection control standards, in line with global best practices. It is not surprising that the hospital recently received the 2019/2020 Kaya Kalp Award for Private Hospitals, from the Indian Ministry of Health and Welfare.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility(CRS), MPUH organizes regular free public health screenings across several communities. ‘At our camps we also screen children between the ages of five to eight years for genital urinary tract deformities, which if undetected can lead to kidney failure and death.’
However, ‘with early detection and adequate treatment, they can lead a normal life. Blood pressure, diabetes and kidney stones, which are leading causes of kidney disease are also diagnosed at these camps,’ he added.
As a charitable ‘’not for profit’’ hospital, surplus funds are reinvested in infrastructural development and treatment of indigent patients.
Dr Sujata Rajapurkar, who heads the Medical Social Work(MSW) department, said ‘needy patients are given up to 20 percent free treatment.
The department aids the process of collecting donations hence some of the patients are treated absolutely free.’ ‘Philanthropists, who aid specific patients are kept abreast of the progress of the patients and expenditure. Sometimes we ask patients to write to them directly,’ she added.
According to her, the hospital provides subsidized general wards, while semi and special rooms are charged more than the general wards. ‘The excess costs take care of the poor patients. All our patients receive the same optimal services, irrespective of economic or social status.’
Indeed, MPUH has made India proud and put Nadiad town on the world map for kidney care. Its impact has reached all corners of the country and the globe. It is against this backdrop that management is mobilising resources to build an ultra-modern 200-bed hospital. This-mega structure is part of its resolve to continue to advance optimal nephro-urology health delivery. The approximate budget of the project is about $15-16 million.
The management is optimistic that the proposed multi-million hub, will definitely open a new vista in the life of the hospital and global renal family. It is expected to be a state-of-the art medical edifice, that requires the support of every one especially governments, international agencies, the corporate world.
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