KLE Dr Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital
The Genesis:
Since the inception of J N Medical College (JNMC), the Government District Hospital, Belagavi (DHB) was affiliated to it for clinical training. When the Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) was started in 2004 , the DHB was disaffiliated from JNMC. Dr. Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital(PKCH) was commissioned in 2004 for clinical training of JNMC students. In consonance with the philosophy of the KLE Society, the PKCH provides free health care in the basic specialities to the poor people of this part of the country. At present, there are 1250 beds in the hospital and with 80 to 90% occupancy, it provides excelleant range of clinical material to the undergraduate(UG) and post graduate(PG) students and researchers.
Charity at its best:
The PKCH provides free health care in basic specialities. Any patient can opt for admission to PKCH. The stay, food, basic investigations, medicines, operations, deliveries, nursing and doctors care are totally free. Free food is provided from the ‘Annapoorneshwari’ scheme which runs on the generous donations from the philanthropists.
Clinical Facilities :
Twelve basic clinical departments viz. Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Pulmonology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Anaesthesiology and Radiology and three paraclinical departments viz.Pathology, Microbiology and Biochemistry are working in the PKCH. There are eleven major, and four minoroperation theatres, fully equipped, including laparoscopic surgical sets. In addition to the basic clinical specialities, Mother and Child institute, Kangaroo mother care, NICU, PICU, OICU, paediatric nephrology including dialysis, paediatric physiotherapy, arthroscopy and GI Endoscopy are some of the specialised tertiary level services rendered in the hospital. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre is established in paediatrics dept to manage Severe Acute Malnourished(SAM) children. Pharmacology faculty look after Pharmacovigilance activities. Poison Detection Centre is another unique facility managed by the Forensic Medicine department. Clinical Skills Lab is also located in the PKCH. Central laboratory performs all basic investigations. Basic imaging services like X-Ray and USG are free; CT and MRI are subsidized.
Outreach Programs:
Several camps are conducted on a regular basis in the PHCs and UHCs attached to JNMC. This provides opportunity to the students to acquaint with the primary level health care. In 2012-13, as a part of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of JNMC, twelve Mega Helath Camps were conducted in all the ten talukas of Belgaum District and two neighboring areas of Maharashtra; more than 35000 patients were examined, investigated and treated in the camps. These camps have improved the reputation of the hospital resulting in increased inflow of patients.
Government Schemes:
The PKCH is recognized by the Govt of Karnataka to provide health care to the BPL children under Balasajeevini and District Blindness Control Society(DBCS).
Teaching, Learning Facilities:
There are adequate number of teaching rooms equipped with AV aids and illustrative charts in all wards and OPDs. In surgical wards the teaching rooms have CCTV connection to the Operation Theatres. Radiology and Anaesthesiology depts have Excellent museums. There is a digital library providing online journals and other reference books. In addition to regular teaching activities, workshops and other training programs are conducted by the University Department of Education of Health Professions like EBM, Patient Safety, and Clinical Audit. Clinical Skills Lab conducts more than sixty workshops in a year for UG,PG students of health sciences on Basic surgical skills, and other procedural skills using simulators, endotrainers, models and manikins. Lecture halls in the hospital are equipped with AV aids and connected to operation theaters.; live operative workshops and international video conferences are regularly organised.
Research Facilities:
Abundant clinical material is a fertile data for the researchers. The three PHCs and UHCs also feed good number of patients. Several community based research programs are completed and some ongonig which are funded by NIH and other Universities abroad. Number of research papers are regularly published in the national and international journals. Clinical trials supported by the pharma companies are also undertaken. The clinical material also has been the subject of study for Post Doctoral thesis leading to PhD as well as for PG dissertations.
KLE Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre (PKHMRC) (www.klehospital.org):
The PKHMRC is a 1000 bed teriary care hospital giving health care services in superspeciality subjects viz. Cardiology, CVTS,Neurology, Neurosurgery, Urology, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiac Anaesthesiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Oncology and others. This was started in 1996; Col. A K Sing is the architect of this Hospital and was the first Medical Director. Dr M V Jali is the second Medical Director and Chief Executive since ten years. Several services are shared between the PKCH and PKHMRC viz. CSSD, Laundary, Kitchen,Powersupply, AC plant, STP, Boiler, Incinerator, Blood Bank, ambulance service. etc. Together the KLE Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospitals have 2250 beds- one of the biggest- under one roof in India. The laboratory of the hospital is NABL certified. The hospitals are under going for NABH accreditation.
The Leadership:
The hospital is close to the heart of Dr Prabhakar Kore, who serves the philosophy and ethos of the ‘Saptarishis’ of KLE Society- ‘Truth, Love, Service and Sacrifice’. Under his directions the PKCH is growing by leaps and bounds not only in quantity but also in quality. The members of Board Of directors of the KLE Society also are committed to achieve the goal set by the Chairman. Dr R S Mudhol, who had been the Medical Superintendent of PKCH from its inception, is fully committed to the patient care. Dr. S.B. Patil has been appointed as Medical Superintendent from October 2014. The former Principals of JNMC-Dr.V D Patil and Dr.A S Godhi, have contributed to the growth of PKCH. Present Principal Dr.(Mrs) N S Mahantashetti is taking keen interest in monitoring the academic activities. Dr B G Desai, the present Secretary, and all the past secretaries of the KLE society have been supportive to the cause of education and health care at PKCH.
The Future – The ‘Vision’ Document :
KLE University, under the able leadership of the first Vice-Chancellor Dr.(Prof)C K Kokate has achieved the distinction of NAAC ‘A’ grade and MHRD ‘A’category within five years of its inception. The Hospitals have played a key role in this achievement of the University. The University has allocated Rs six crores to be spent for further augmentation of the services of the PKCH. A ‘Vision’ Document-the road map of perspective development for the next five years- has been approved by the University; Dr. Prabhakar Kore, the visionary Chairman of the KLE Society and the Chancellor of KLE University, has given open invitation to all the HODs to suggest their plan to upgrade their departmental services in the hospital. When the plans are realized, there is no doubt that the hospital will be one of the best, not only in India but also in the world.