The twin institutions, the Seth Gordhandas Sundardas Medical College & King Edward VII Memorial Hospital are now entering their 80th year. I extend a hearty welcome to you all to this 80th Foundation Day ceremony.

We have with us today, our well-wishers who have guided us through-out; lent a helping hand when needed and a pat when outstanding work is done. Our former Dean Dr.G.B. Parulekar has guided me since 1966. It will not be an exaggeration to say that these institutions are quoted as his first rather than second home. He often visits these institutions under some pretext or the other without informing Mrs.Parulekar!! Dr.Smt. Phadke, Vice Chancellor, MUHS, is with her brilliant achievements, a source of inspiration to all. My colleague Dr.Yeolekar, ex-teacher of these institutions is also present here.

Hon. Addl. Municipal Commissioner. Shri Patankar’s father was a teacher and hence he has a natural love for students. He has given wonderful solutions to vour aried problems from time to time. For our students’ hostel he has allotted 4 floors in a building near the Elphinstone Road Station. Moreover, after meeting our Warden Dr. Sunil, he realized our need for a Gymkhana and mess and I am happy to announce that he has now allotted the entire building for the hostel.

Hon. Shri Johny Joseph, the distinguished Municipal Commissioner has a soft corner for GSMC & KEM Hospital. He has taken keen interest in the institutional upkeep and advancement, specially in the renovation of OPDs and restoration of these glorious heritage structures. Shri Phanse, Chairman, Public health committee, is an acknowledged expert on human resource development - interested in the efficiency and welfare of a worker. However he has his priorities right. Patient care is more important. He is working tirelessly to help us solve labour related issues.

Shri Mohan Rawale, M.P., Shri Ayre, Chairman, Education Committee, Smt.Trushna Vishwasrao, Shri.Rahatkar, Smt.Samiksha Paralkar. Ex-chairman, our alumni Dr.Jivraj Shah, Dr.Acharya, Smt.Mangala Gaikwad, our esteemed donors, Dr.Joglekar, former Dean and a well wisher of these institutions are all present here. We welcome them all and express our gratitude for their august presence.

This 80th Foundation Day is important because many projects useful to patient care and also to students will be started in the ensuing year.

Our hospital buildings are heritage structures with a lush green campus giving solace as well as inspiration to patients and staff alike. The restoration and modernization of these heritage buildings is envisaged now. A new students’ hostel is being constructed. The tenders for the same have been floated. A New hospital building is next in our phase of development. This expansion is planned in such a way that it will cater not only to the present but also future needs. Our museum is also being modernized. We will be able to see archival specimens like the needle used by Dr.Kotnis; the first ECG machine in India etc. The Pathology and Anatomy specimens of common and rare diseases will be kept too, but I guess those will be as hard to identify - as they were in our student days!!

We will be purchasing new equipment this year e.g. Computer aided surgery, which will facilitate Neurosurgeons and Orthopaedic surgeons perform skilled surgeries accurately and neatly with little experience (to acquire this skill it usually takes many years). This hospital gives service not only to patients coming from all parts of Maharashtra, but the entire country. The new telemedicine project will facilitate doctors in villages to consult KEM doctors.

The other important facet of our being is the student. Newly admitted students and their parents are introduced to medical curriculum and the campus at the time of their entry to this college. We were grateful for and astonished by the work done by our students and interns during the last monsoon deluge. With the help of these students, we are now undertaking new projects by which people will be informed about preventive measures, the importance of blood donation. Along with the above, very useful courses like Healthcare Administration, Transfusion Medicine, Critical Care Nursing, Emergency Services etc. will be started.

We compared our institutions with other renowned national and international institutions. At the Johns Hopkins Hospital, there are 1774 beds treating 43,717 in-patients, 1880 deliveries with a budget of Rs.4800 cr. whereas our hospital is 1800 bedded treating 83,000 in-patients, 8,000 deliveries with budget of Rs.107 cr.!! At AIIMS, patients have to pay an advance of 10 days’ charges at Rs.375/- per day. In municipal hospitals, admission is free. We give services worth 100 cr. to society. However. we lag behind Johns Hopkins in one field i.e. they get grant of Rs.62 cr. for research, whereas we get Rs.12 cr. If we wish to continue our supremacy, we need to boost our research efforts.

We are marching ahead in the disciplines like Genetics and Stem Cell research and and our students are taking the lead in the subjects. There are many such projects in the pipeline.

A birthday means a day to receive admiration - a pat on the back. The press has appreciated the work done by the college & hospital.

We welcome the dignitaries present to felicitate our staff and students. On this day we remember and appreciate the achievements of our students and the good work done by our staff.