Public health led modern medicine to embrace midwifery

Index Home Midwifery is an ancient profession. The word itself means with-women (mid=with, wif=women). Traditional definition of a midwife is a “woman, who is trained to assist other women in childbirth”. Tradition of women helping each other in childbirth is old. In almost all indigenous cultures, midwifery is a family tradition. Over the years, this tradition also passed on to religious institutions and congregations.… Continue reading Public health led modern medicine to embrace midwifery

“Hospital on a train” & its postage stamps

Index Home We have all heard the story of James Watt, who probably inspired by a fluttering lid of a kettle, invented steam engine in 1769. About 35 years later, Richard Trevithick, a British engineer developed first steam-engine powered locomotive. Thereafter, trains ruled surface transport, as automobiles were more than a century away. By 1850s, passenger… Continue reading “Hospital on a train” & its postage stamps

Global recognition of Child rights

Index Home Child rights are less than a 100 years old Children have rights, and today all countries recognise them. Firstly, all children have a right to education. All governments provide for free and publicly funded school systems. Secondly, children have a right to health. Most states, international agencies, and local charities focus on maternal… Continue reading Global recognition of Child rights

Hospitals around the world: Different strokes for Ivory-towers

Index Home Ivory-towers are places of seclusion. Its inmates are often busy in their own pursuits, unaware of the world outside. Critics often equate hospitals to ivory-towers, both from a position of strength and weakness. Regardless, hospitals house suffering as well as joy, pain as well as curse, deaths as well as births. In this blog… Continue reading Hospitals around the world: Different strokes for Ivory-towers

Medical colleges and hospitals in India

Index Home Today India has more than 590 medical colleges, and about 64 standalone postgraduate institutes. There are more than 70,000 hospitals in India. Healthcare system in India is ancient. We first interacted with modern medicine through Portuguese physicians. However, British East India Company (EIC) established first hospitals. First modern hospital was Cogan’s house (west 1664)… Continue reading Medical colleges and hospitals in India