Gujarat hospital wing named after Texas-based Indian-Americans

RUCHIT SHAH/SURENDRA ULLAL

SURAT: Sanjeevani Hospital at Chalthan town near Surat in Gujarat, India, decided to honor a Texas based Indian American motel Moghul and a successful banker Chandrakant Patel by naming part of its wing as Surekha and Chandrakant Patel Texas Heart Institute.

This recognition follows the Patels getting $500,000 worth of cardiac cathlab equipment at no cost to the hospital which now has become a full fledged multipurpose medical facility for hundreds of thousands of locals in the area.

Sanjeevani Arogya Trust that has been running this hospital for the past many years hosted a function to formally launch their new wing and honoring Surekha and Chandrakant Patel who specially flew from Dallas, Texas, to be part of this event. The formal launch was done by the Gujarat state Minister Ishwarbhai Parmar in the presence of over 500 guests, invitees and medical staff of the hospital.

Chandrakant Patel, the honored guest from Texas, said that it was very important to detect heart ailment at a very early stage and the equipment that is being set up in the hospital would help detect the blockages in the coronary arteries which in its turn will help the doctors to open them up by inserting appropriate stents if necessary.

Patel pointed out that the heart disease accounts for nearly 25 per cent of out of 100 deaths in the population and with the modern technology this is preventable and in many cases reversible too. Unlike cancer, death because of heart failure is sudden and hence the importance of this type of equipment.

Dr Priyank Mody, who had his training from Dr Ajit Menon of Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, is in overall charge of this new facility. Dr Menon, who came from Mumbai to attend this event, also underlined the need for early detection and exhorted all those attending to spread the word about this new equipment and its availability at the new wing of Sanjeevani Hospital.

Minister Ishwarbhai Parmar praised Chandrakant Patel and Surekha Patel for their help in getting this sophisticated equipment at Chalthan and talked about the Ma (Mother) project of the government that would give up to Rs, 5 lakh per family to take care of their medical expenses done at government-approved medical facilities and hospitals.

Ramanbhai Jani, the managing trustee of the Trust lavished wholesome praise on Chandrakant Patel and Surekha Patel. He pointed out that Chandrakant Patel has carved out name and fame in the US too not only through his business acumen but has been recognized for giving back to the community by undertaking various social, charitable and philanthropic projects in Dallas and other US cities.

Earlier Gautam Patel, secretary of the Trust, welcomed the guests and dignitaries. Gautam Patel proposed a vote of thanks at the end.

The Texas Heart Institute pitched that all, including NRIs, can take advantage of this newly opened facility where all heart-related tests are done at a fraction of the costs charged in the US.