When a close relative of mine had the first symptoms of breast cancer known, she was advised by all and sundry to take treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. “For God’s sake, don’t have it in Kolkata”, they all echoed. She decided on the contrary, preferring Dr. Saikat Gupta’s care at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital instead, and now she is doing okay.
My father too, when he suffered from colon cancer 17 years ago, got all treatment in Kolkata, his post-operative treatment done under the care of legendary cancer specialist, Dr. Saroj Gupta. He recovered well and went on to live for 16 years before succumbing to lungs congestion last year.
If my experience tells otherwise, it is an exception. General perception about quality of medical treatment in Kolkata ranks very low, treatment of cancer more so. Not without reason.
Keeping pace with all-round decline in quality of life in the past few decades, healthcare too in the state worsened. In absence of new facilities in the city, people with moderate sum to spare rushed to southern states, while the cancer patients would much rather prefer Mumbai in place of who-knows-what-may-happen Kolkata.
In the last few years, the tide is gradually ebbing in favor of state-of-the-art facilities that have come up in the city. Apart from Apollo Gleneagles, the radiology department in Dhakuria’s AMRI Hospital caters to large number of cancer patients.
To that will now add more options that are fast taking shape. Tata Memorial will have a Rs.120 crore super-specialized hospital in Rajarhat, christened Tata Medical Center, dedicated to cancer treatment. Apollo also is jacking up cancer treatment facility in its existing campus on EM Bypass for Rs.40 crore. Not to be outdone, Thakurpukur’s Cancer Center Welfare Home and Research Institute too is going for Rs.12 crore upgrade plans.
There is business to be had in Kolkata for treating cancer, what with over 24% of 230,000 patients Tata Memorial in Mumbai attends to coming from the east and northeast of the country.
But there will be other advantages as well. Superior service at these upcoming hospitals will raise the bar of overall healthcare sector, for nothing spells success than competition.
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I know Dr Saikat Gupta – he is one of the best in town and unlike other doctors in Kolkata he is very human, kind and respects and cares for patients.
My mother had a breast cancer in 2009. I decided to treat her at HCG global or BOI in Bangalore under Dr Samrat Bhattacharrya. The reason was nothing but I was harassed and misbehaved by the doctors and hospitals in Kolkata. At that time I had no contact of Dr. Gupta too. But every one at HCG was very human, caring. I am very thankful to Dr. Bhattacharyya, Dr B.S Ajaykumar, Dr Mahesh and all at BOI(one lady Bengali doctor I am sorry I forgot her name, the matron at hospital, everyone at reception) for what they did for my mom. This is no advertisement. Its personal experience. Luckily my mom was diagnosed at a very early stage and she underwent her surgury at BOI. We had to come back to Kolkata for her chemo and radiation.
And horror struck me at AMRI in doing so. Thats a big story.
Dr Bhattacharyya was kind again to help me get this done under Dr Madhuchanda Kar @ Apollo Kolkata. She was a very kind and cooperating doctor and would take your call in emergency even very late in night. I remember calling her at 2am the night. It was during that time I saw Dr Gupta and later took my other relatives to him and referred friends to him and they all just said ‘WOW’ what a doctor.
I am also indebted to Dr Jawed for the radiation. Now my mother is fully fit and she is leading a normal life. This makes me realise good doctors are in Kolkata for sure but some where deep down there is a problem. Problem is possibly the owners who want to make huge profits at the cost of human values. They forget the same profit money will flow out like gushing water “god forbid” such a thing happen to their kins.
Last but not the least, my mom now undergoes her check ups under Dr. Indranil Ghosh at TATA MEDICAL CENTER Kolkata. We all are very satisfied with her post-cure checkups under Dr Ghosh.
I think its the best thing to happen in town for cancer care. Thanks Mr. Ratan TATA.
With such long interaction with different hospitals and doctors (there are 4 doctors in my house itself) I am now an expert in advicing people where to go what to do. So anyone can feel free to contact me for free advice. Also please try to get yourself treated locally travelling long distance is probably not worth it. Last but not the least I would also like to thank two pharma companies SANOFI and NOVARTIS for their support in my moms treatment.