The five-and-a-half storey hospital, the Chembur Hospital, which wasinaugurated on May 22 by Union minister of petrochemicals Ram Naik is nowoperational. R K Mulla, director, Administration, points out that thehospital is unique in the sense that it has incorporated a number offeatures which are not present in any hospital in the vicinity. Care hasalso been taken to see that the hospital is environment-friendly. Thehospital which boasts of state-of-the-art medical equipment is fullyair-conditioned. It is also the first hospital which runs fully on pipednatural gas. This is most effective in reducing CFC emission. It has alsoinstalled gas-fired incinerators so as to avoid dumping of bio-medicalwastes.

The need for a hospital of this kind in this area was imperative. Until now,any burns or accident victim in the Chembur-Trombay area right upto theThane-Belapur zone and beyond till Panvel had to be rushed to the Sionhospital or the Mesina hospital which involved loss of precious time. Infact the golden hour-the first hour after the mishap-is vital to a victim ofan accident or burns case. The setting up of the Chembur Hospital will coverup this lacuna.

The 103-bed hospital also caters to other disciplines in the medical fieldsuch as gynaecology, orthopaedics, surgery, plastic surgery, paediatrics,ENT, opthalmology, medicine, physiotherapy and occupational therapy and hasput-patients department (OPD) in each of these categories. Besides, thereare the radiology and pathology departments with the former departmenthaving a Helical scan machine costing Rs 1.2 crore.

The hospital has four operation theatres. Their walls are coated withthortex, a substance that helps avoid the germination of bacteria in thecrevices of tiles. The casualty ward also has an emergency operation theatrecomprising four beds.

Being primarily a burns and accident super speciality hospital, care hasbeen taken to include physiotherapy and occupational therapy wings tospecially treat the trauma cases that the hospital will routinely handle.Mulla adds that in the second phase the hospital proposes to have arehabilitation and guidance centre.

The hospital's basement has special resin-impregnated transformers, gas andsmoke detectors and also an astro-turf in front of the building, which hasbeen laid out as per the guidelines provided by the fire brigade. To caterto relatives and friends of the patients, the hospital has set up acafeteria in the atrium.

Mulla says that the hospital would be fully operational within three months.Keeping abreast with the times the hospital would also have everythingautomated-from registration to billing. Need the patients and theirrelatives ask for more!