From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 19: St John’s Medical College, one of the leading hospitals of Karnataka, has set a shining example in fulfilling its motto of ‘serving the underserved’ by screening, providing crisis care and treatment to patients in wards as also in intensive care units (ICUs) besides extending free treatment worth over Rs 5 crore in the last five months in tackling the COVID 19 pandemic cases.
The hospital, with its rich history of responding to every single disaster in the country since 1970s, established the first Fever Clinic in Bengaluru city, a dedicated COVID-ER, and set aside about 700 beds for care of COVID patients, including 38 ICU beds for the severely ill.
By the end of July 2020, just 5 months since the first case surfaced in Bengaluru, St John’s Medical College Hospital had screened more than 5000 patients in the fever clinic, provided crisis care to more than 2000 patients in the Emergency Department, treated more than 600 patients in the wards and taken care of more than 500 critically ill patients in the ICUs.
“Serving the underserved – has been the foremost objective of St John’s,” explained Fr Paul Parathazham, director of the St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, “not just underserved, COVID patients are today being stigmatized, ostracized, and even physically attacked. So, true to our calling to serve the underprivileged, St John’s has risen to the challenge of providing affordable health care to the COVID patients”.
St John’s has given more than Rs 5 crore worth of free treatment since March 2020, Fr Paragthazham said.
The Institution has committed to more than 500 beds to the State Government and the Bruhut Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
“This is despite the difficult financial situation of the hospital, which has seen a significant drop in footfalls and occupancy in recent months,’’ the Director said.
Archbishop Fr Dr Peter Machado blessed and inaugurated the St John’s COVID Care Centre, a comprehensive facility consisting of 48 Isolation beds, a 24-bed ITU and a 24 bed ICU.
With the establishment of this facility, St John’s is enhancing the critical care services in the hospital – the dearth of which is evident across all hospitals in the City.
St John’s has been making available the best of COVID Care facilities which are unique among private hospitals. “This facility is located away from the main hospital while at the same time being connected to it, ensuring that non-COVID patients can access the Out-Patient area, laboratory services and pharmacy with reasonable assurance of not coming into contact with the infected patients,’’ explained the Director.
“It is the unstinted commitment of our staff – the doctors, the nurses, nursing aides and all other staff from ancillary departments – that has given us the courage to undertake such a significant expansion,” says Dr George D’Souza, dean of St John’s Medical College.
“Our staff have worked selflessly long hours and at great personal risk. In addition to affecting us monetarily, some of the staff have suffered the infection too,’’ he mentions.
Dr Bobby Joseph, Vice Dean – Community Outreach said: “It is the support of donors, both big and small who have made this possible. The Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives has supported the establishment of the ICU and Titan Company Ltd. has funded the 48-bed Isolation Wards. Numerous other donors – individuals, companies, foundations – have contributed significant amounts in cash and kind to support the COVID Care support that St John’s is providing.’’
For any further information, including ways to support the work that St John’s does, please contact: b.joseph@st.johns.in.