Journalism of Courage
It may have been a humble start for an MBBS doctor to be appointed as a registrar of Bombay Municipal Hospitals convalescent home way back in 1963. But for Dr KH Sancheti it was an opportunity even in a dreary job and soon several events changed his life and made him successful. On July 24 the surgeon turns 75. He was among the elite team to operate upon the former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayees knee and launched the countrys first indigenous knee implant.
I have a long way to go,said Sancheti. While several doctors in the city have come together to celebrate his birthday with a list of yearlong events like health check p camps and medical workshops,the proud recipient of Padmashree and Padmabhushan is eager to introduce more indigenous implants.
Arthritis is a big problem and the cost of the surgery does get reduced if there are indigenous implants. The Indus knee joint was launched and more than 1,000-1,500 patients have benefitted.We have an in-house workshop to design other joints like hip,shoulder and elbow, said Sancheti.
Today I am a contented man, he said. I was an average student who scored 43 percent in the SSC examination. Then I met two friends Dr VR Karnik and Dr AL Kukde and we studied together. I got a first class that was rare those days and gained easy admission to BJ Medical College. Despite being a qualified doctor,I took the job as the registrar of Bombay Municipal Hospitals convalescent home. Only 15 days after my appointment,the convalescent home was converted into an orthopaedic centre,said Sancheti.
He moved to Pune and set up the Sancheti Institute of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation. Sancheti designed an indigenous knee and also set up the Joint Replacement Centre. This has been my biggest achievement so far,said Sancheti.
Dr Arun Jamkar,dean,BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital said,a committee has been set up to conduct events like health camps,hospital architectural meetings and musical programmes.
Dr JB Panse,who is among his oldest student,and several others have planned a continuing medical education programme on July 25. Manish Gupta will speak on maximizing your potential bring the best in you at an event to be held on July 24 at Hotel Le Meridien. Dr Parag Sancheti said that several international experts will participate in the workshops.
