First such centre in the State, the two-storey Agarwal Hospital will take care of 250 patients at the cost of Rs 500 per day per patient.
Finally, some respite for families of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. A 250-bed hospital exclusively for such patients the first of its kind in the State will be inaugurated at Vasai on June 1. The two-storey Agarwal Hospital will cater to the patients as long as their families/relatives desire.
The charge per patient per day will range from Rs 200 to Rs 500, depending on the physical condition of the patient. However, the hospital will ensure that the relatives don’t use the centre as a dumping ground of such patients.
The charge per patient per day will range from Rs 200 to Rs 500, depending on the physical condition of the patient. However, the hospital will ensure that the relatives don’t use the centre as a dumping ground of such patients.
Patients could face discharge if their families/relatives don’t visit them; in fact, there are plans to make arrangements for relatives’ stay at the hospital.
Actor Tom Alter, who is the hospital’s brand ambassador, will welcome the first batch of patients on June 1. R Gopalkrishnan, one of the men behind the idea, said: “Not just patients, even their families and relatives go through hell. Our country needs many such hospitals exclusively for these patients. Most hospitals discharge such patients after a few days of medication.”
Trustees’ backing
The Agarwal Hospital is run by Jeevandeep Medical Trust which is based in Virar. Crediting the trustees for backing the idea, Gopalkrishnan said the hospital will have 10 ICU beds.
“Most of these patients are very old. They suffer from multiple ailments and age-related problems. We wanted to make sure that the hospital is well-equipped to handle emergencies,” he said.
Patients and relatives have already started queuing up for admissions. There are a few who don’t even suffer from Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, such as 88-year-old Anant Karnik from Malad.
“Our children are ready to look after my wife and me, but we don’t want to be a burden on them. We are not ill, but who knows what the future holds for us,” he said. It is not likely that the Karniks will be admitted to the hospital.
However, there is a lot of hope for someone such as Robin Abraham from Thane, whose 82-year-old mother suffers from the Alzheimer’s disease. “The idea is good. Hopefully, it will soon have all the facilities. I will wait for a few months, get feedback from other patients’ relatives,” he said.