‘A home away from home’

M. Rahmat Ali :
Due to many practical reasons in Dhaka, I decided to go to India for better treatment when my beloved wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Then all of my friends and well-wishers started giving me advice where should I go. I became confused with so many suggestions. But, one of the suggestions, given by my wife’s colleague attracted me. She got her throat cancer treatment few years back from Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre & Research Institute (SGCC&RI), Kolkata India and shared her wonderful experiences. Finally, we went to Kolkata and registered my wife with SGCC&RI for her treatment. We stayed there for about one and half month. Doctors conducted cancer operation and gave subsequent treatment there. It was really a nice experience of getting improved treatment in a homely environment with in an affordable cost.
The hospital is located in the outskirts of the southern part of Kolkata. I became so amazed when I entered inside the hospital premises. Hospital building and cottages are surrounded by greenery, ponds and lakes. There is no ‘cosmetic fashion’ like highly expensive ‘corporate hospitals.’ Everything is simple but beautiful. Equal treatment for all was my first attraction. From the richest person to the hardcore poor, everybody is supposed to follow the single queue for registration. I met several Bangladeshi patients and talked with them. Some of the reasons for choosing this hospital are quality of treatment is excellent, charges of pathological test is reasonable; physicians, nurses, officials and other support staff are very cordial and there is no tendency of blackmailing among them to earn ‘extra money’ and the atmosphere is very nice.
During my stay in the hospital, I tried to know the system of treating the patients, the attitude of physicians, nurses and facilities of treatment. The SGCC&RI, formerly known as Cancer Centre Welfare Home and Research Institute (CCWH&RI), Thakurpukur, is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to providing cancer management at an affordable cost along with carrying on cancer based research activities. It was built under the leadership of Dr Saroj Gupta with the main aim of serving the underprivileged people. With the help from people of different walks of life- from school children to celebrities, from daily wage earners to the affluent, the 12 acres of marshy land in 1973 now boasts of a 310 bedded fully comprehensive cancer hospital, not deviating from its main objective of serving the poor with 20 per cent free beds and 50 per cent general beds.
We are lucky enough that my wife got the opportunity to get treatment under Dr Arnab Gupta, a promising Consultant Surgical Oncologist with a charming personality to provide ‘magical’ counselling to patients. Dr Arnab Gupta, the bonafide predecessor of his father Dr Saraj Gupta is the Director of the SGCC&RI. I was looking for the opportunity to know more about the evolution of the hospital from Dr Gupta but heisted to offer due to his involvement and devotion to his professional duties. But when I approached him, he gave me time.
Dr Arnab Gupta started sharing with dilemma in the mind-set of his father Dr Saroj Gupta. He said that his father joined as a junior doctor in Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital. He became frustrated when he witnessed cancer patients in advance stage had mere of opportunity to survive and decided to leave the profession. But his director Dr Subot Mitra inspired him to convert his frustration into challenge. At that time there were only three cancer hospitals in entire India. Many patients visited the hospital from distance places of the country with cancer in advance stage. They had to stay in the street as there were very limited accommodation facilities in the hospital.
Referring to the challenges of his father Dr Arnab Gupta said Dr Soraj Gupta in 1973 thought about building ‘A Home Away from Home’ to provide services for vulnerable cancer patients to ensure at least basic care. He was then looking for a place to establish such a home. One of his patients’ families agreed to give six acres of land at Thakurpukur area where there were no communication facilities, residence and it was almost a wetland. The landowner gave Dr Saraj Gupta to demonstrate some result in one year. But he has no financial strength to do so. He had the skills to write drama and performance as well. He then wrote a drama titled Karkat Lagna based on a cancer patients and he performed the role of the cancer patient. In the drama the cancer patient appealed to the doctor that ‘is there any places for my poor body in such a mega city- big hospital. I want to live.’ His performance touched the viewers mind. People came forward to help him for mobilising fund. With that small amount he started his venture in Thakurpukur. Then he was able to reach many people with his appeal. He managed to convince noted film actresses Hema Malini and she attended a dance recital held at Netajee Indoor Stadium on January 22, 1977 to mobilise fund. With that amount the first cottage was built in this cancer research centre where 25 beds were arranged for cancer patients.
Mentioning about the principles of providing services Dr Arnab Gupta said that his father as the founder of the hospital maintained an inclusive approach so that no patient is refused of treatment due to financial constraint. This principle is maintained strictly. Now the hospital has nice infrastructural facilities, trained physicians, bone marrow transplant has been started. Palliative care service has been introduced comprising a dedicated team for providing support to those who have less chance to be recovered. Under this service they try to boost the mental strength of such cancer patients and provide them with different types of amusement. Home visit for critical cancer patients has been arranged for better counselling for them and their family members in Kolkata.
Dr Arnab said that the hospital is administered by a board of directors and trustees are providing service without taking any financial benefit. In this hospital treatment is not a ‘commodity’ for profit making. The hospital is fully running on charitable basis and they are not usually taking financial support from the government.
Regarding the cancer treatment Dr Gupta said, “If the cancer is detected in early stage there is no risk of death.”
He stressed on the preventive measures to address cancer and mentioned that 30 to 40 per cent cases of cancer can be eliminated by leaving tobacco. There is vaccine named HPV (human papillomavirus) to immunise female persons from cancer by taking this vaccine during their young ages (25-30 years).
Besides, Dr Gupta suggested avoiding junk food as several chemicals are used to prepare these types of food, which is injurious for health. Preservative food is not good. Citing example he said, prevalence of gastric cancer in Japan was high as they have tendencies of taking preservative food. But they are now changing their food habits. Red meat is not good for health as it may cause colon cancer and breast cancer. Oily and fatty food should be avoided. Fruits and vegetables particularly green vegetables are good for cancer patients. Water should be taken more and air pollution should be avoided by the cancer patients.
Finally, Dr Arnab Gupta said that they are promoting cancer treatment with an inclusive approach to materialise the dream of Dr Saroj Gupta who passed away in May 2010.
During my stay in the hospital I felt the premises as ‘a home away from home.’