RV’s focus was on recruiting quality talent, motivating them to render dedicated service, nurturing disciplined working, a patient-centric approach to delivering service and streamlined systems and procedures.
It was a rich gathering of healthcare experts, including famous surgeons and physicians, insurance experts, a renowned former health secretary of Tamil Nadu who retired as chief secretary.
The occasion was the launch of the book Healing Hands, a biography of Prof R Venkataswami (RV) who pioneered hand/plastic surgery at the Stanley Hospital. It was written by Dr Swami Subramaniam, another product of Stanley Medical College (SMC), who served the pharma sector and an author. The book was released by the pioneer of corporate hospitals in India and a classmate of Prof RV, Apollo Hospitals’ Dr P C Reddy.
Author Swami, in his lucid introduction, referred to the systematic way in which Prof RV built the department despite the constraints of a government undertaking. RV’s focus was on recruiting quality talent, motivating them to render dedicated service and nurturing disciplined working. RV had specialised training in plastic surgery under Dr C Balakrishnan at Nagpur Medical College and had a patient-centric approach to delivering service, said Swami.
Focus on Hand surgery…
The highlight of the success of Stanley was the focus on hand surgery. The hospital located near a crowded industry belt in North Madras was prone to accidents and loss of limbs. RV sharpened the focus on hand surgery, which grew exponentially from around 700 a year to 10,000 annually by the time RV retired. Stanley became, by far, the largest hospital for hand-related surgery and treatment.
Swami points to the excellence and success achieved by such focused medicare by institutions such as Sankara Nethralaya, Aravind Eye Hospitals and Ganga Hospitals. Such specialisation brings with it cost advantages and high success rates, he said.
Releasing the book, Dr P C Reddy recalled his student days at SMC and the several pioneering initiatives were taken at Stanley. He pointed to the simplicity and dedication of RV that made Stanley a world-class institution and training many to follow his footsteps.
Dr. Girija Vaidyanathan (GV), in her service of 38 years in the IAS, spent 16 on health administration. She did leave her imprint in make the state emerge a leader in healthcare.
Does TN need more medical colleges?
Prof R Surendran, former Director, Surgical Gastroenterology, SMC, suggested that every department in the government hospitals should have a greater degree of autonomy and the power to select, hire and promote faculty and discretion to spend on improving and expanding facilities.
There is a need for some coordinated thinking in expanding medical facilities. Surendran pointed to the liver transplant unit set up at Stanley Hospital and running well. He questioned the logic of starting a liver transplant unit at the Madras Medical College just two km away, even while the SMC unit was struggling with static funding of Rs 5 crore for the past ten years.
Dr S Raja Sabapathy (SRS), Director, Ganga Hospitals, stressed the advantages and importance of offering focused healthcare. Trained at Stanley under RV, he has promoted the Ganga Hospitals in Coimbatore, offering two specialties – Orthopaedics and Hand
Surgery.
RV, in his characteristic humility, referred to the support extended by his team and family – his wife Sivarani, a senior gynecologist and his two sons.
The famous surgeon and his gynecologist – obstetrician wife run the Gandhi Niketan Ashram at Kallupatti near Madurai, liberally funding its needs. The Ashram provides education to around 3000 children from the rural neighbourhood. Dr G Balakrishnan, the brilliant hand surgeon who continued the work of Prof RV, organised this unique meeting to honour his mentor.
