Date:01/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/01/stories/2006110114130400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

MMM hospitals set to mark silver jubilee

K. Lakshmi

Two-day international conference planned in January 2007

CHENNAI : This year marks a milestone for Madras Medical Mission (MMM) hospitals, which have completed nearly a quarter century of service.

The idea of a hospital dedicated to treating cardiovascular diseases germinated during an informal discussion by members of the Orthodox Church. It came to fruition when the hospital was registered as a Madras Medical Mission Society in 1982.

It was started as a non-profit organisation to provide subsidised quality medical care for the poor. From a 50-bed hospital on rented premises, the hospital has grown enormously. It has performed about 25,000 surgeries performed in 25 years.

Verghese Eapen, vice-president of the MMM, said the hospital moved into the present premises in 1996. Besides the steady flow of about 16,000 patients in a year, the hospital also reached out to rural people through a mobile diagnostic unit that has travelled as far as Gujarat.

A large number of needy patients are referred for treatment through rural camps. Paediatric cardiology is a speciality of the hospital, which has also branched out into two more specialities, organ transplantation and reproductive medicine.

A. John Punnoose, chief executive officer, said that MMM had taken a big step forward with the establishment of the Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences to provide a comprehensive medical education. The institute also has a 500- bed multi speciality hospital. The hospital is planning a two-day international conference in January 2007 to mark its silver jubilee. The oration of the President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, would be the highlight of the conference; the theme will be `Not for profit organisations in health care,' said Mr. Punnoose.