Pediatrics History For almost the first three decades of our institution, Paediatrics did not exist as a separate entity.The physicians looking after the health needs of adult patients considered children as miniature adults and treated them as such. It soon dawned that children and infant have special needs that require specialised attention. Following the worldwide trend, a separate department of Pediatrics was established in 1958 with two Paediatric Units and a total strength of 48 in patient beds. The units were headed by two honorary Pediatricians - Dr. P.E. Bharucha and Dr. M.P.Bhagat. They were assisted by an assistant honorary each. Both these stalwarts served the hospital for over 15 years and were responsible for its growth and for the training of a generation of able Paediatricians.In 1967, a third unit was added and the bed strength of the department was increased to 72 beds and later 90 beds in 1976. For a large part of its existance, many more patients were cared for on the floor beds, so that no patient requiring admission was denied the benefit of inpatient care. In the sixties and early seventies - before setting up of the pediatric wards in the peripheral municipal hospitals like Cooper Hospital, Rajawadi Hospital; etc, the load of patients was tremendous with almost 15000 to 20000 patients were seen in the outpatient departments per year and more than 5000 patients were admitted per year.Over the years as the facilities in peripheral Hospitals got established and improved, the patient load at KEM Hospital has shown a decreasing trend. We now see around 14000 patients in the OPDs per year and around 5000 patients are admitted per year in pediatric wards. Reduction in patient load coupled with availability of ancilliary laboratory and other investigative facilities resulted in better care of patients and now we are able to accurately diagnose many illnesses and treat many conditions effectively. The aims of department as that of the hospital itself have always been patient care, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research. Till the establishment of this department at KEM Hospital, the undergraduate students had their training from B.J. Wadia Hospital for Children. Now, Their rotation in Pediatrics is divided in these two hospitals . The postgraduate students and interns also work at KEM Hospital, B.J. Hospital as well as R. N. Cooper Hospital during their training. The department has been training students for the Diploma in Child Health (DCH) course of the college of Physicians of Bombay and MD Paediatrics Course of the Bombay University since 1960 and DCH Course of Bombay University since 1993. Over the years, the department of pediatrics has evolved and developed in specilaity care services. The first amongst its leaps was the Special care area in the pediatric ward for sick children by Dr P.E. Bharucha in 1958 with two incubators, isolation facilities and separate nursing staff. Initially, the obstetricians took care of all newborns delivered at KEM Hospital in the obstetric wards. In 1968, Paediatricians took over the rsponsibility. In 1970, a separate Neonatal Care Unit was set up adjacent to the postpartum ward with 10 beds with incubators, phototherapy units, separate pantry and separate staff. The facility was expanded with by the efforts of Dr N. B. Kumta and Dr. S. F. Irani to provide level II and Level III care in 1991-92, as it was felt that a neonate is not a miniature child but one whose care required knowledge and expertise. With the survival of more and more premature infants, better understanding of neonatal physiology and health care needs and technological advances, it was time that some pediatricians dedicated themselves to look after neonates. The Neonatal unit was given the status of a separate Department in 1994 and it trains postgraduate students for DM Neonatology Course. The Departments of Pediatrics is working at developing other specialities too. A Rheumatology Clinic has been running since 1969 and a Nephrology clinic since 1971, both being started by Dr M. P. Bhagat, Dr Maharukh K.Joshi and Dr. P. W. Kandoth. This was done to ensure proper prophylaxis and follow up of cases with rheumatic heart disease and other rheumatic disorders. From the rheumatology clinic a number of patients have undergone surgical correction successfully. ?The clinic has incorporated the help of psychiatrists since 1998 to support these children with chronic heart disease who may have associated pathophysiology. Paediatric Nephrology Clinic caters to children with kidney diseses especially those with nephrotic syndrome.. The Paediatric Chest Clinic was established by Dr M. D. Shah in 1979. This Clinic undertakes treatment for chronic chets ailments and also educates patients in the home management and prevention of some of the common chest conditions like bronchial asthma, chronic lung disorders etc. The Genetic Clinic an dthe pediatric research laboratory was started in 1979 by Dr N. B. Kumta. From a fledging start, it later became on eof the first fifteen laboratories in India. Here, the patients are investigated for the diagnosis of genetic an dmetabolic disorders and the clinic gets referrals from all over India.Dr N. B. Kumta's successor Late Dr B. A. Bharucha expaned the facilities by collaborating with similar laboratories n from abroad. This clinic and the attactched laboratory investigates , manages and counsels the patients on awide variety of genetic an dm,etabolic disorders. The Prestige of this clinic has increased over the past years and this facility is considered to be one of the best in the city and the state. Infants born in KEM Hospital are followed up in separate Well Baby Clinic since 1970. The clinic undetakes activities of Underfive care including growth monitoring an dhealthy promotive activities like advice regarding nutrition , immunisation and accident prevention. A Paediatric Intensive care unit providing level III care was started in 1992 with 8 beds. It is renovated in August 2002 as Jhaverbhai Tarjabhai Patel Memorial PICU and expanded to 15 beds, and is equipped with modern day equipments like the invasive and noninvasive multichannel monitors centrally connected through a common network, also ventilators, pulseoximeters , capnographs etc and is managed by separate medical and nursing Staff. The Bai Jerbai Wadia hospital can be considered as our partner in providing health care services to children and in training paediatricians of the future. Between 1929 and 1958, Bai Jerebai Wadia Hospital was the only hospital in this part of the city which cared for the medical needs of the children and imparted training to undergraduate students from Seth G. S. Medical college and KEM Hospital, mumbai. It was headed by adult physicians in the beginning and the paediatricians took over late. Dr R. VC. Sanzgiri and Dr S. M. Merchant were among the first pediatricians along with Dr Nazreth to propogate pediatrics as a subject besides treating the children. The Hospital also ha sthe credit of training posatgraduate students for DCH from College of physicians of Bombay since 1944 and for MD paediatrics course from Mumbai University since the early fifties , ahead of any other institution in the city. Almost all paediatricians in the early years have worked at both the B. J. Hospital for children and KEM Hospital on an honorary basis and gave the benefit of their expertise to the suffering children. In 1958, after the establishment of Department of Paediatrics at the Seth G. S. Medical college & KEM Hospital Mumbai , to ensure better undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and administrative reasons, the honorary paediatrician were permitted affiliations to only one organisation. Later paediatric Department of the B. J.. wadia Hospital was recognised as an extension of Seth G. S. Medical college and even postgraduate students were registered through it for MD paediatrics from Bombay University. At the B. J. Wadia Hospital for Children the specialty studies and training is also being pursued. There are special clinics related to paediatrics viz: nephrology, epilepsy, neurology,cardiology, endocrinology, HIV/AIDs,and Hemato-Oncology besides neonatology and Intensive care unit.

Home | College | Hospital | Alumni | Contact | Departments | Search | Pediatrics