An elderly gentleman did not deem it fit to go to the Public Health Centre (PHC) for treatment for his orthopedic ailment. He went to a corporate hospital instead, spent several lakhs of rupees and returned home and the disorder returned as well. A neighbour, who is also a resident of West Mambalam, counselled him to try out the local PHC. Though reluctant, the old man complied. To his surprise, he found that not only was he treated well and recouped, he also ended up paying not even a tenth of what he paid to the heavily advertised facility he went to earlier. The wealthy man was N Teeka Singh. In gratitude, his son Balaji Singh Teeka came forward to fund the construction of a whole new building (complete with central air conditioning besides medical facilities) to house a new department for the PHC worth crores of rupees. A new cardiology wing will be opened in the building on Monday, marking the inauguration of the year-long celebrations of the birth centenary of the PHC’s founder, M C Subrahmanyam.Singh’s experience shows that the team that is running the PHC is faithfully carrying on the legacy of the hospital’s founder ‘MC’ to selflessly serve the people without any motive of profit or publicity, something that is absent in many new-age hospitals. For example, M K Srinivasan, medical director and president of PHC, says he had never taken a single paisa for his services. “I have done over 1,000 surgeries here. I have not touched a single paisa. I give back the conveyance charges the hospital gives me as donation to the PHC.” The selflessness of such doctors immensely contribute to the functioning of the hospital, which charges a pittance when compared to the ‘market’ rates.From its humble beginning in a thatched hut and functioning with a kerosene lantern, the PHC has now blossomed into a 150-bedded hospital. The hospital has special rooms, intensive care units, well equipped operation theatres, diagnostic facilities, curative facilities and hi-tech equipment. Absolutely free medical treatment, consultations and diagnostic services are offered to economically disadvantaged sections. According to the hospital, during 2010-11 alone, it has served 28,432 such patients. The value (during 2010-11) of free consultation is worth Rs 4,54,560, medicines Rs 13,55,383 and investigations Rs 18,667. The facility is accredited by the National Board of Examinations for DNB degrees.T A Subramanian, honorary secretary of the PHC recalls that in 1963, Indian Express group founder Ramnath Goenka volunteered to set up a surgical ward by donating Rs 10,000, which in those days was was a princely sum. “With Goenka’s support, the surgical ward was started. He also routed help through several other philanthropists to fund the construction of buildings,” informs Subramanian.
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