Dr.Dilip S. Patwardhan, M.S.
Shalyashree Hospital, Thane

Q. Tell us about your hospital in Thane and about the kind of work you do?
A. "Shalyashree Hospital" is opposite the famous Ghantali Devi temple at Naupada, right in the heart of the city. I am general surgeon myself and the spectrum of my work is wide. Practically any type of abdominal and pelvic surgery can be performed here as this is my prime speciality. Apart from complicated operations, simple common disorders like hernia, appendicitis, ulcers, intestinal problems, breast tumors, uterine tumors, abscesses etc. can be treated here efficiently. An important feature I will like to mention here is that apart from surgery, each and every care of the patient, like starting intravenous drip, performing dressings etc.is done by me personally and not by RMOs or the staff. I see that everything is done as painlessly as possible. Any surgery performed by me doesnot require stitch removal, because I follow a special technique while closing the wound in which the stitch runs deeper to the skin and the material used is not visible at the end of surgery. This material gets absorbed through circulation. After some period, scar is almost invisible..

Q. Would you consider us as your family patients?
A. Most certainly. The Doctor-Patient relationship is deteriorating very fast these days. The only solution for a patient is to have a Family doctor, and for the doctor is to have family patients. Both should have total faith in each other. This will keep the relationship more cordial and less mechanical. I always tend to treat day to day ailments of my patients at very reasonable charges.

Q. Can a simple middle class person afford treatment at your clinic?
A. Yes. In fact my practice is shaped out for middle class. Generally I mould myself so that any person for any kind of surgery can be treated at my place. I don't have a single example of a patient being rejected because of financial reasons.

Q. Can you tell us something about your schooling and college career?
A. Early sixties was the time when most of the progress oriented students in Thane used to follow the path of 'Naupada Middle School =è New English School =è Ramnarain Ruia College =è Professional courses'. By the grace of god and by the motivation given to me by my parents, my brothers and my teachers, who were no less than god for me, I followed that course and entered Grant Medical College, Mumbai in 1971. During my initial weeks at this college, I realized that I am at the right place. I had a feeling that the hardwork that I had done during my earlier education is bringing me the reward in the form of being placed at Grant Medical College. In 1979 I completed my M.S. in General Surgery.

Q. What were your achievements during the professional education?
A. I was awarded Merit scholarship by University of Mumbai throughout my MBBS course.
The prestigious 'Gulabshankar Chotalal Desai Scholarship' offerred by the University of Mumbai every 5 years was also awarded to me throughout my undergraduate course.
'Hormusji Cama Prize', another prestigious prize, was awarded by the University for my thesis on 'Medical plants of India' in 1976. For preparing this thesis, I had to study the basics of Ayurveda myself.
A special prize was given to me by the Research Society of J.J.Hospital in 1976 for my research in experimental surgery as undergraduate student in the department of Pharmacology. The paper was presented by me in the second Maharashtra conference of Pharmacology held at Aurangabad in 1976.
These are some of my notable achievements.

Q. Why did you begin your practice at a place like Kulgaon(Badlapur), which was quite remote in 1981 when you started ?
A. I always wanted to practice in the area where hospital facilities were not available at all. Kulgaon(Badlapur) was a place like that in 1981. Apart from surgery I had trained myself in different areas of medicine including general medicine, maternity, gynaecology, and even paediatrics to some extent, so that I could manage most of the problems within the community. My hospital was equipped with x'ray unit, ECG and pathology laboratory run by my wife, Mrs.Mridul Patwardhan. Sonography machine was added in 1986, which I had to import from the USA at that time.

Q. Why did you shift your hospital from Kulgaon(Badlapur) to Thane?
A. When I went to Badlapur in 1981, the purpose was to be available for the people who donot have any medical facility. Now Badlapur is not a village. Very good doctors and medical facilities are available there, even in my absence.
The purpose why I came back to Thane is that I want to be in touch with newer developments in medicine. I still have lots of things to learn which I can do better staying in Thane. As I am originally from Thane, I feel comfortable here. I am going to continue my profession here, with prime purpose of solving medical problems of the middle class at a very affordable price
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