World Heart Day ’12
29 Nov, 2012
To commemorate World Heart Day on 29th September, 2012, Medica organised a number of social welfare and awareness spreading activities on 28th and 29th in the city. Free health camps were held for morning walkers during the early hours on the two days at Rabindra Sarobar and Horticulture Society of India. The health check-ups included blood Pressure, Weight and Random Blood Sugar checks. Close to 200 people benefitted from these camps.
Medica also organised a free Cardiac Check-up Camp at Behala Shantiniloy Welfare Society, an old age home, from 12 – 2pm on 29th. The cardiac consultation of 30 inmates included BP and weight checks and ECGs.
A World Heart Day walk was organised by Medica on the 29th to spread awareness on the necessity of exercise for keeping the heart healthy. The walk started from the Medica Clinic at Beck Bagan and ended at the Medica Pharmacy on Lake View road. More than 100 participants included members of the Medica family. The contingent carried banners and placards with slogans extolling the virtues of exercise, not smoking and eating right.
Children’s Day ’12 – Sit & Draw
17 Nov, 2012
An afternoon for ‘little artists’…
Medica celebrated children’s Day 2012 with a ‘Sit & Draw’ competition organised at its premises for children between the ages of 5 and 15. Held on the balmy afternoon of 17th November, in a carnival like atmosphere, the competition had children in three categories – 5 to 8, 9 to 12 and 13 to 15 participating for the coveted 1st, 2nd and 3rd trophies.
The little ones in the first category were given the choice of drawing whatever their little hearts felt like, but the older children had slightly tougher assignments having to restrict themselves to Puja spirit (for the 2nd category) and their conception of health (for the oldest). Getting down to the work at hand with great gusto, the future Picassos, Ganesh Pynes and Hussains came up with some really innovative, well-constructed pieces of drawings and painting that left our judges, eminent artist Wasim Kapoor and art gallery owner Ms Roshan Choudhury, with a really tough task of deciding on the winners.
While handing over the prizes, Mr Kapoor declared every participant a winner, adding “prizes or awards do not make artists, had that been so, my closet would have been full of them. Each of you is an artist in your own right. My advice to you is to always remain true to your instincts, never compromise on them because your parents or your teacher, or anybody else, tells you to do so”.
Cochlear Implantation Workshop
30 Sep, 2012
A live surgical workshop on Cochlear Implantation, organised by Medica ENT Institute, was held on 30th September, 2012 at Medica. Guest faculty at the workshop included Dr. A. Lahiri, Director Cochlear Implant Services, Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, and Kolkata-based Prof B.K. Roychowdhury and Dr. Amitabha Roychowdhury. Live surgery demonstration was followed by a panel discussion hosted by MENTI doctors, Dr. NVK Mohan, Dr. Arjun Dasgupta and Dr. Chirajit Dutta.
3rd Live Skull-base Workshop
18 Sep, 2012
The 3rd Live Skull-base Workshop, organised by Medica Institute of Neurological Diseases, was held at Medica on 18th September, 2012. Prof. Atul Goel, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth G.S. Medical College, and Dr. Duttatraya Muzumdar, Associate professor, Department of Neurosurgery, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, were the guest faculty at the workshop convened by Dr. L.N. Tripathy, Director MIND.
Medica launches KARMA
05 Mar, 2012
Kolkata has long suffered a lack of properly established and coordinated trauma and ambulance services that can come to the prompt assistance of road traffic accident victims. Kolkata Police has been working to bridge this gap with 18 ambulances placed at strategic locations in the city to ferry trauma victims to the nearest hospitals. However, their initiative lacked the technical expertise that can be provided only by personnel trained in trauma care. All leading hospitals of the city were invited to support in running the services.
Medica Superspecialty Hospital stepped in to bridge this lacuna. With the strategic collaboration of Kolkata Police, Medica Superspecialty Hospital and Eastern India Healthcare Foundation, was born KARMA: Kolkata Accident Rescue & Medical Assistance, a project that aims to provide 24 hours trauma care service to the people of the city.
KARMA was officially flagged off by Commissioner of Police Mr. Ranjit Pachnanda on 5th March, 2012, from the police headquarters at Lal Bazar.
18 Ambulances and drivers have been given by Kolkata Police for providing 24 hours trauma care service to the trauma victim. This launch has put the city of Kolkata on the prestigious list of the few Indian cities where this service is currently available.
The ambulances are manned by skilled and highly-trained Paramedical Staff, backed by an ever-vigilant Command Centre and the Network of Hospitals giving expert medical care. The Ambulance services to the trauma patients are free of cost.
Central Command Centre: All calls for accident-help have to be made to the Command Centre (033-66070707) or Kolkata Police toll free no (1073). The Command Centre is staffed by Call Receivers and Ambulance Dispatchers. Ambulance movements are tracked through GPS, with simultaneous monitoring by Kolkata Police Control Room and the Command Centre. A database of all Kolkata hospitals has been established so that patients can be taken to the nearest hospital, which can, subsequently, take care of the patient.
KARMA is another feather in the cap of Kolkata Police, which is keeping alive its “We Care, For You” promise to the citizens of the city! And Medica is proud to be associated with the noble venture.
Children’s Day – ‘Healthy Baby’ contest at Medica
14 Nov, 2011
On 14th November, 2011 Medica had organised a host of activities celebrating Children’s Day. Apart from announcing a Child Health check-up package offered at a hugely discounted rate (free-of-cost for the first 100 registrants), free consultations were given to children in various areas including juvenile diabetes, physical deformity, heart problems, obesity check and Paediatrician’s consultation.
Medica had also organised a ‘Healthy Baby Contest’ for our little friends and a ‘How good a mom are you?’ contest for the young mothers. The response was overwhelming with around 20 tiny participants keeping the organisers on their feet with their antics. Our in-house panel of judges including HOD, Paediatrics, Dr. Ashok Mittal, Sr Gynaecologist Dr. Chandrima Dasgupta and Sister-in-charge Sister Anita Stone had a tough time deciding on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd spots as, they said, “Every one of them is a winner.” The well-informed moms also passed the small test organised for them with flying colours. The most touching moment of the show was when two young moms shared the trauma they went through when their children were born with critical problems and had to be admitted in the neonatal ICU. They expressed their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Mittal and his team of nurses and assistant for not only making it possible for their little ones to be normal again, but also for the love and support received in their hour of need.
The day was indeed one that will go into the Medica album as a very special day.
World Heart Day
29 Sep, 2011
Medica commemorated World Heart Day on 29th September, 2011 with a host of offers for patients and various awareness activities around town, including free camps.
At the hospital free cardiac consultation was offered to patients on the 29th along with a specially discounted cardiac check-up package. Medica also announced a special offer on cardiac procedures like Angiography, Angioplasty and Bypass Surgery where the registrant got the benefit of free bed and doctor’s charges over a period of one year.
A week-long awareness campaign was carried out at various junctures in the city, in collaboration with the Hindi Business Line newspaper, where ‘Healthy Heart’ tips were given to passersby. Free cardiac check-up camps were held at various parks in Kolkata for the benefit of morning walkers over a period of three days. This venture was supported by Times of India.
On 29th a procession of Medicans took to the EM Bypass with banners and placards extolling the virtues of healthy living, healthy eating and regular exercise in keeping the heart fit. The more than 100-strong procession included doctors and administrative staff of Medica and was also joined by some visitors and friends of the hospital, making it a memorable event.
Workshop on Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
23 Sep, 2011
Medica’s Department of Anaesthesiology hosted the “Workshop on Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)” organized by Indian Society of Anaesthesiology (ISA), West Bengal Chapter on 23rd September, 2011. The worshop was a great success with about 50 participants attending the informative lectures and hands-on training programme in the day-long worshop organised at Medica.
MEDICA Run with Arun
4th & 5th Dec, 2010
Medica Superspecialty Hospital, in association with Ruchi Realty and West Bengal State Council of Sports, had organised an ultramarathon in Kolkata on the 4th & 5th December. India’s leading ultramarathoner Arun Bhardwaj ran non-stop for 24 hours, covering 186 km in the city, bettering his previous best of 161 km. His attempt made it to the Limca Book of Records.
The run, called “Ruchi Realty presents Medica Run with Arun”, was flagged off by Hon’ble Minister of Sunderban Affairs and Sports & Youth Services, West Bengal, from Khudiram Anushilan Kendra on 4th December at 2.30pm and ended at Medica Superspecialty Hospital on 5th December.
Arun Bhardwaj is a 41-year-old government servant. Born in the small village of Baghpath in UP, he spent most of his childhood in Meerut. Stalked by Malaria since early childhood and having to undergo repeated surgery for removal of a tumour, Arun, however, was determined to do something exceptional, to leave a legacy for his daughter that she could be proud of. He began running when he was 17 and by 20 was covering 6km in 20 minutes. Since then Arun has developed into an ultramarathoner, with the Bhagwad Gita helping him build on his mental endurance.
Arun Bhardwaj has participated in a number of national and international ultramarathon races and won accolades both in India and abroad. Recently, he has been invited to participate in the Badwater marathon 2011, held annually in California. Touted as the ‘toughest race in the world’, this run covers 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, in temperatures up to 130F (55c). It is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. This legendary event pits 90 of the world’s toughest athletes against one another and the elements. Participation in this race is by invitation only.
The run in Kolkata was organised to salute the grit and determination of Arun that has got him so far and to help him with funds to enable him to participate in the Badwater Race. It was Medica’s attempt to stand by its philosophy to promote fitness through sports and a promise to stand by our athletes and sportsmen.
Joined by hundreds of sports lovers at various points during his run, Arun crossed the hospital’s threshold to great cheers and the strains of a song specially composed for the occasion by Rupam Islam of Bangla rock band Fossils to lyrics by national award winning lyricist Srijato. To welcome him and salute his spirit and stamina were present a number of the city’s stalwarts from various fields. Shri Kanti Ganguly handed Arun a cheque of Rs 5 Lacs from the Sports Council.
A walk with joint replacement patients
21 Nov, 2010
Dedicating the month of November to arthritic patients, Medica Institute of Orthopaedic Sciences organised a series of activities aimed at making life a little easier for patients with joint pain. Free registration and consultation was offered to patients registering for a special scheme during the third week of November. The offer benefitted about 200 hundred patients who had registered for the scheme. A special package was also offered to patients requiring joint replacement surgery.
Medica Arthritis Walk
As a gesture of our solidarity with our patients who had undergone hip and knee replacement surgeries at Medica, a walk was organised with them at the hospital on 21st November. About 20 joint replacement patients were joined by some veteran sports personalities, friends, members of the Press and hospital staff in the afternoon on a walk from the EM Bypass to the hospital. Leading the walk and encouraging his patients was Dr. Vikash Kapoor, Director, MIOS.
The veteran sportsmen who had joined the walk included ex-footballers Sukumar Samajpati and Chandan Banerjee of East Bengal, Mrityunjoy Banerjee of Mohan Bagan, Ashok Chatterjee who had played for both the clubs at different times and Sugata Tarafdar of Aryan Club.
The walk was followed by an informal get together at the conference hall. The patients spoke about their pre-surgery apprehensions and post-surgery relief and the vast improvement in their quality of life. They could interact with each other, their doctor and share their thoughts.
Orthopaedic Workshop
Kolkata Knee Course, 2010, was organised by the Medica Institute of Orthopaedic Sciences on the 27th and 28th of November at the hospital. The course, coordinated by Dr. Kapoor, was attended by eminent orthopaedicians from the city and outside and included lectures by stalwarts in this stream of medicine. Renowned doctors, Dr. Nishith Shah, Dr. John Mukhopadhyay and Dr. Ashok Rajgopal chaired the various sessions. Live surgery telecast was part of the course.
