Gurdwara Bangla Sahib’s legacy of healing continues

Nestled in the heart of Lutyens Delhi, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib continues to live up to its legacy of healing.

Not only is the shrine spiritual haven for the faithful, it is also a beacon of hope for thousands seeking affordable healthcare. The charitable Guru Harkrishan Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Kidney Dialysis Hospital, operating under the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), from the gurdwara premises, continues to offer free kidney dialysis treatment to all.

Equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and manned by experienced professionals, the hospital treats around 200 to 250 outpatients (OPD) every day.

“The hospital is more than 50 years old. I’ve been working here for the past 25 years. Over time, we have gradually upgraded many facilities and introduced new machines. The hospital charges just Rs 10 for registration slips and minimal fee for lab tests, while providing all basic medical services free of cost, including three days of free medicines. For patients holding Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards, we charge only Rs 50. All specialist doctors come here and offer their services free of charge,” a hospital staff member told The Tribune.

Baldev Singh, a BPL card holder visiting the hospital for treatment, said: “I had come here for a regular check-up and some tests. With my BPL card, consultation and medicines cost me almost nothing. In private hospitals, even basic treatment would have been very expensive, but here it is affordable and reliable. Plus, I also get food from the langar, which makes things much easier for me.”

The hospital opens at 8:30 am each day, but such is the demand for its services that patients begin queuing up as early as 6 am. “All machines here are fully functional and serviced on time as per the instructions of the respective companies. We have an adequate number of staff, so the hospital has not faced any difficulty in managing the patients despite the heavy footfall,” an official confirmed.

In addition to dialysis, the gurdwara’s premises also house a diagnostic centre offering MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT (Computed tomography) scans and X-rays at subsidised rates. MRI scans, for instance, cost just Rs 50 for BPL families and Rs 1,400 for middle-class patients — a fraction of the market rate which is anywhere up to Rs 8,000.

Shalini Gupta, a middle-class homemaker who recently underwent an MRI here, shared, “In private hospitals, an MRI would cost anywhere between Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000, but here I got it done for just Rs 1,400. The doctors are very supportive, and the medicines are also much cheaper. For families like ours, this hospital makes quality healthcare accessible without pushing us into financial stress.”

During treatment, patients and their attendants are offered free meals from the gurdwara’s langar, maintaining the spirit of seva (selfless service) that defines Sikh institutions.

Adding to the affordability, medicines are sold at a lower price than market rates. While branded drugs are 30-35% cheaper, generic alternatives are priced even lower, ensuring that no patient is turned away due to financial hardship.

Without affiliations to any other hospitals or NGOs, the institution operates independently under DSGMC.

Yet, its impact is far-reaching, offering a model of inclusive and compassionate healthcare in the country’s Capital.

Importantly, the gurdwara’s spirit of service and healing goes back to the days of its foundations.

Built to mark visit of Guru Harkrishan

The gurdwara was built to mark the sacred visit of Guru Harkrishan to Delhi. In those days, smallpox was raging in Delhi. Guru Harkrishan dipped his holy feet in water and poured charan amrit into a small tank. Everyone who drank water from the tank was cured of the disease.

PET scan machine operational since June

A PET scan for cancer detection has also been operational at Guru Harkrishan Polyclinic since June this year. The centre provides PET scan for Rs 7,000 making it one of the most economical PET scan options in the country. Harmeet Singh Kalka, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), says the amount charged as it is the bare minimum required for the upkeep of the equipment involved in the scan.