"This Hospital, erected by the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company for its employees, was on the first day of March 1923, in the presence of Sir Charles Armstrong, Knight, Chairman of the Company, opened by Lady Hepper, by whom the foundation stone had been laid on the fifth day of July 1920," reads a century-old shiny plaque affixed in the corridors of the Central Railway Hospital, Igatpuri.
Situated on over seven acres of land, this hospital served not only the employees for whose benefit it was created, but also as a proud and benevolent institution of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company, the parent organisation of present-day Indian Railways.
A dispensary came into existence in the year 1918, and the leadership of the enterprise was cast not upon a British officer but on an Indian – Dr S.C. Biswas, Assistant Surgeon. This is among a few facts that revolve around the hospital.
R.D. Vispute, a retired employee of the hospital, said, “I joined as a pharmacist in 1984, when the hospital was in its full glory. There were 70 beds, 13 doctors, specialists in different fields of medicine, with a total of 170 staff members. But now this hospital is in a pathetic condition. We have pointed out its condition to higher authorities, but they are not in a position to take any decision."
“They should understand that more than 5,000 employees and 127 villages near Igatpuri are dependent on the hospital. Now the condition is so bad that it cannot treat a patient with simple stitches. As Igatpuri is in the ghat section, accidents are very common in this area, and a government trauma centre is the need of the hour, as for any minor or major treatment, the residents of Igatpuri depend on Nashik," added Vispute.
The taluka place like Igatpuri is totally dependent upon Nashik city for any medical emergency. No private or public hospital has speciality medical services here. The rural hospital too has not diagnosed any emergency patients since it was opened.
Secretary of Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh, Atul Goikane, said, “After the start of Indian Railways, a railway hospital was started in Igatpuri on March 1, 1923, for railway employees during the British era. Till 1998, this hospital was equipped with a TB ward, an operation theatre, an autopsy room and state-of-the-art machinery. People used to come here from many places, including Bhusawal and Jhansi, for treatment. However, at present, this hospital is counting its last hours. Employees and serious patients now have to go to hospitals in Nashik or Kalyan for treatment.”
'Golden hour' important for serious patients
This is the only medical facility which is closest to Kasara Ghat. The ghat section is well known as accident-prone. In case of a major accident in the ghat, patients have no option but to be admitted to hospitals in Nashik or Kalyan immediately for treatment. One to one and a half hours are crucial to save the patient's life, but currently, this hospital only treats minor diseases like cold and fever, informed Goikane.
Labour unions aggressive
In this regard, the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh has protested from time to time, but has not received any response. Therefore, the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh has warned of a strong protest if the number of ICU wards is not increased soon, said Goikane.
