Once a city landmark, now Kapur Hospital lies in ruins

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 28

In February this year, curtains were brought down on 90 year old Dr BL Kapur Memorial Hospital with its lease not being extended by the government. The building, which at present is lying neglected, could have been converted into a new hospital.

The machines, beds and other furniture were sold off after the hospital was shut down, and the water and power connections were also snapped. It was learnt that some Class IV employees, who have been living on the hospital premises, are still living there. Two security guards still sit outside the hospital building.

A shopkeeper from the adjoining market said the building was lying in ruins and all furniture and machines had been sold off by the trust. It took more than a month to sell off the whole stuff. It would have been better if the hospital had been taken over by the government to run a dispensary, health centre or a hospital from here, he said.

“If it is not taken over, it will soon become a safe haven for drug addicts,” he said.

Dr Raj Cheema, wife of Dr TS Cheema, who played a pivotal role in taking this hospital to new heights, said it was more heartbreaking for her that the government cared little about the hospital that was a well-established institution.

“The government could have taken over it or given it in private hands. It had all infrastructure, including an operation theatre and a laparoscopic unit, fitted with ultra-modern equipment. Our country needs more medical facilities and it is very sad that a well-established hospital has been facing neglect,” said Cheema.

Dr Ravinder Vatsyayan, who had made donations from his piggy bank for the construction of the hospital when he was 6-7 years old, said: “Huge infrastructure was there but nobody took interest in the hospital, neither the Health Department nor the administration. The issue was not raised by any political party either. One only needed to run the hospital the rest everything was already there. Before it turns into ruins, the hospital should be taken over by the government,” said Dr Vatsayan.

The hospital was said to have posted a loss of Rs 5.16 crore as on March 2018 after which it was shut down in February this year. The 100-bed hospital was run by the Lahore Hospital Society. The society also ran a nursing school on the premises.

What Civil Surgeon says

Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga, Civil Surgeon, said such a hospital could be taken over by the government as provision of medical facilities was the top priority of the government. Since Dr Bagga joined only a few days ago, he was not aware of the exact case of the hospital.

The rich past of the hospital 

Dr BL Kapur Memorial Hospital has been a landmark of the city. It was started by Dr Kapur in 1930 in Lahore. After Partition, Dr Kapur started Ludhiana Maternity Hospital. The then Chief Minister of Punjab, Dr Gopi Chand, allotted land known as Roshni Garden to the Lahore Hospital Society Trust for the construction of a charitable hospital, thus Dr BL Kapur Memorial Hospital came into existence. 

Patient arrival continues 

Around 20-25 patients, who are unaware of the closure of the hospital in Februray, visit the building daily. On Friday also, The Tribune team saw around four patients returning disappointed after seeing the vacant building of the hospital. “We hope the hospital will re-open some day,” said a woman who had come from Daresi Ground.