Message From The Chairman Of The Managing Committee
It was the compassion of the late Lala Lajpat Rai which induced him to help indigent patients of TB. He started work on a project in 1930, and Gulab Devi Chest Hospital was set up and started functioning about 75 years ago, in 1934. Since then the Hospital has provided relief and treatment to many millions of patients and has contributed towards the improvement of general health standards in the country.
The association of my family with this charitable institution dates back from the days of my late grandfather, Syed Maratib AIi, who was involved with the running and development of the Hospital after Independence in 1947. My father, Syed Wajid Ali, served as Chairman from 1961 to 2001. I worked under his supervision and guidance for more that two decades and have seen the Hospital develop into a large, efficiently organized, health unit. As his health did not allow him to continue, he nominated me as Chairman of Gulab Devi Chest Hospital, from December 2001. All the members of the Managing Committee were kind enough to repose their trust in me and passed a vote of confidence to in April 2002 confirm me as Chairman of the Managing Committee. Since then, I have been carrying out my duty.
This Hospital provides service of the highest standard in the treatment of TB and chest diseases with the help of the latest equipment, modern medical and surgical techniques and, above all, the dedication and expertise of the staff. Further, this Hospital is providing the facilities of diagnosis and management of international standard in all chest diseases with the highest expertise. It is worth mentioning that not only are TB and chest diseases being treated here, but the Hospital is now providing comprehensive diagnosis and management in the field of cardiology and also cardiac surgery. Different research projects are being carried out, and the Hospital has started postgraduate classes in chest and cardiac diseases.
It is, indeed, a matter of great satisfaction to me that the Hospital has continued to provide medical and surgical treatment and advice to people who cannot afford to pay for these facilities.
Over the years, the Hospital has been fortunate in receiving generous donations from a large number of people. Some of them have even financed complete wards. This is most reassuring, because it indicates the trust of donors in the quality of service and care provided by the Hospital.
Nonetheless, it is in the area of operational expenses that the institution faces some problems because of a shortage of resources. Since treatment is provided virtually free of charge, it means that any addition to the number of wards/beds and patients, perforce, entails an increase in the requirement of funds for running the Hospital satisfactorily. Most of the financial support in this area has been provided by the Government of the Punjab. From the private sector also, we receive a substantial amount of donations in cash and kind. But in order to meet the escalating challenges of an increasing number of patients, more donations from the private sector are required.
It is my fervent hope that people, particularly the more affluent, will come forward and share the burden of the Hospital, enabling it to continue the provision of humanitarian services to society. This will also reduce the demand for government funds, which can then be utilized for providing other essential services to the people. I, therefore, appeal to the donors to kindly contribute towards the setting up and strengthening of the Endowment Fund of Gulab Devi Chest Hospital. The income from the investment of this Fund would be utilized towards meeting the costs of running its various wards and facilities, thus reducing the pressure on the Hospital's limited resources, enabling it to further develop its services and facilities. I personally assure- all donors that their money will be prudently and effectively utilized by the Hospital for the benefit of the needy and the sick.
Syed Shahid Ali
