Heart hospital gets its beat back

The power struggle between the Ambani brothers had almost put an end to the Mandke Foundation’s Heart Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Andheri. Or so everyone thought.

“There was some confusion for a year. But Anil and Tina Ambani have decided to carry forward the work on the centre,” said Dr Alka Mandke. “Tina is taking a keen interest in the project.”  Senior vice-president, corporate communications of Reliance group, and Dhirubai Ambani’s confidant Yogesh Desai said, “The project is on. Ceratin things are being sorted out and the missing links are being juxtaposed.”

Moreover, the government has permitted more FSIs to the building, which means some extra floors to the existing 17 floors.  The cost of the construction was estimated at Rs 250 crore, and Dr Nitu Mandke had pumped in Rs 80 crore from his personal savings and bank loans. A source said Reliance will clear the loans taken by the Mandkes. It has been decided that the hospital will be named after Dhirubai and the convention centre after Dr Nitu Mandke. Dr Alka will be the centre’s director.

And, she has no regrets about the change in name. “No, at least my husband’s dream will be fulfilled. Moreover, Anil and Tina are taking a personal interest to see to it that the project is completed. Also, my husband’s idea of allocating a quoto for poor patients will be honoured,” Dr Alka said.

Dr Nitu Mandke had floated the Mandke Foundation before his death in May 2003. The doctor, who had operated upon more than 12,000 patients in India and abroad, had died of an heart attack.

But the hospital and research centre at Four Bungalows ran into controversy, with some Congress and NCP leaders accusing that the hospital was being funded by Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

The fact that Dr Nitu Mandke had operated upon Thackeray and the plot was given to him by the Sena-BJP government fired the rumours and soon the project ran into financial problems.

“Nobody is financing me. It’s my hard-earned money. Donations have come from individuals and instutitions,” Mandke had told this correspondent before his death. The doctor was expectedly unhappy over accusations that the hospital was Thackeray’s. “The truth is it’s everyone’s hospital,” he had said.

The hospital was scheduled to begin operations in 2006, but it may take some more time. It’s expected to be a first-of-its-kind hospital with super-speciality facilities for patients, shopping arcades, and eating joints.

“There will be a social service department at the hospital to see to it that 15 per cent of the patients are treated free of charge, and another 15 per cent are given concessional rates depending on their economical background,” the doctor said.