Beyond the OPD

Overview

Established in April 2006, the Cleft Centre at Thakershy Charitable Trust, J S Hospital, has been dedicated to providing specialised and comprehensive care for patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, facial deformities, and other congenital craniofacial conditions. The centre has a long-standing commitment to making essential surgical treatment accessible to underprivileged patients, with eligible cleft surgeries and associated treatments provided free of cost.

Over the years, the centre has received valuable support from Dr. Shyam Sheth and various international non-governmental organisations from Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, contributing to the development and continuity of its charitable cleft care services.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the launch of the new hospital facility in April 2024, the centre has continued its mission of delivering accessible, specialised surgical care. Its current collaboration with “Doshi Smiles” strengthens the commitment to comprehensive cleft and craniofacial management, including surgical treatment, multidisciplinary care, and long-term patient follow-up.

The centre’s clinical services are led by Dr. Rishabh Shah, Consultant – Cleft, Maxillofacial & Craniofacial Surgeon, who brings specialised expertise in the management of congenital and acquired facial deformities.

In addition to cleft and craniofacial surgery, Dr. Shah performs more than 350 facial plastic and reconstructive surgical procedures annually, encompassing a broad spectrum of facial deformities, functional corrections, and reconstructive needs.

With the clinical infrastructure and administrative support of J S Hospital, the centre serves patients from Gujarat and various parts of India, helping children and families access specialised treatment regardless of their financial circumstances.

Through the continued support of Doshi Smiles and the institutional commitment of Thakershy Charitable Trust, the Cleft Centre remains dedicated to restoring function, improving facial appearance, supporting rehabilitation, and enhancing the quality of life of patients with cleft and craniofacial conditions.

Thakershy Charitable Trust, in collaboration with Shyam Oncology Foundation, provides free care and support to patients suffering from advanced-stage cancer, irrespective of their community, caste, or creed, with special preference given to poor and needy patients.

Karunalaya, located on the 1st Floor of J S Hospital, operates under the supervision of Dr. Chirag A. Shah and Mrs sonal shah Oncologist (Apollo Hospital).

Established in 2010, the centre has continued its services even during the COVID-19 pandemic, operating from our under-construction premises to ensure uninterrupted support for patients in need.

Today, Karunalaya operates from its new premises with 15 beds, offering free-of-cost care and accommodation for patients. The centre also extends support to patients' relatives, providing accommodation and meals to help families during a challenging period.

Services and Facilities

• Free accommodation and care for advanced-stage cancer patients.
• 15-bed facility at the new Karunalaya premises.
• Accommodation for relatives, allowing 1 family member to stay alongside patients.
• Meals provided for patients and their accompanying relatives.
• Medical doctor visits for patient care and supervision.
• Priority support for poor and needy patients, irrespective of community, caste, or creed.

J S Hospital has been providing dialysis facilities to patients in need, continuing its commitment to accessible and affordable healthcare.

At our earlier hospital premises, the Dialysis Centre was established through the generous support of Navprakash Charities – Mr. Hemantbhai Kolsawala and Late Shri Navinbhai Kolsawala. The centre was subsequently supported by P. C. Snehal & Co.

The centre operates on 3 dialysis machines and provides dialysis at an average cost of Rs 600 per dialysis. It has regular patients who return for dialysis over many years – recently, one patient completed their 1358th dialysis and another their 949th at our centre.

Cumulatively, more than 20,000 dialysis patients have been treated at the centre.

At J S Hospital, managed by Thakershy Charitable Trust, we believe that caring for senior citizens goes beyond medical treatment. It is about providing continuous support, promoting well-being, and ensuring that our elderly community members lead a healthy, active, and dignified life.

With this vision, we have developed initiatives dedicated to the healthcare and overall well-being of senior citizens, combining home-based medical assistance with opportunities for social engagement and community participation.

Home-Based Medical Care for Senior Citizens

Our home healthcare initiative is designed to provide medical assistance to senior citizens who are unable to visit the hospital or require medical care and support at home.

Through this initiative, our medical team visits eligible individuals at their homes to provide medical assistance and support, helping them access healthcare in a familiar and comfortable environment.

The initiative reflects our commitment to making healthcare more accessible to elderly individuals, particularly those who may experience difficulties travelling to a hospital.

A Legacy of Community Service

In its earlier phase, this initiative received support from Hiramani Welfare Society, founded by Late Shri Jayantilal Bhikhabhai Shah. This association contributed to the vision of extending care and support to senior citizens within the community.

Geriatric Club: Building Healthy Minds and Active Lives

At our new premises, we have established a dedicated Geriatric Club to promote social interaction, active living, and emotional well-being among senior citizens.

The club welcomes members who wish to participate in a variety of social and recreational activities through a nominal membership fee. It provides a space where senior citizens can come together, build friendships, enjoy shared experiences, and remain engaged in community life.

Activities and Programs

The Geriatric Club regularly organizes a variety of activities designed to encourage social interaction, creativity, and enjoyment, including:

• Dinners: Opportunities for members to connect and enjoy meals together.
• Indoor Games: Recreational activities that encourage participation and interaction.
• Outings: Group activities and visits that promote engagement beyond the club.
• Satsangs: Spiritual and community gatherings.
• Musical Programs: Enjoyable musical experiences and entertainment.
• Cooking Competitions: Activities that encourage creativity and participation.
• Birthday Celebrations: Celebrating the special occasions of club members.

These activities are intended to create a welcoming and engaging environment where senior citizens can spend meaningful time with one another.

A Dedicated Space for Our Senior Citizens

The Geriatric Club has a dedicated hall designed to provide members with a comfortable and welcoming environment. The hall is equipped with:

• Air conditioning for comfortable use.
• A library to encourage reading and learning.
• A television for entertainment and shared viewing.
• Space for social gatherings and recreational activities.

The club aims to provide a place where members can relax, participate in activities, and enjoy meaningful social connections.

Promoting Healthy Aging: Mind and Body

The primary focus of our senior citizen initiative is to support the healthy mind and body of aging citizens. We recognize that emotional well-being, social interaction, and physical health are important aspects of quality aging.

Through home-based medical assistance and the Geriatric Club's social activities, J S Hospital strives to create a supportive environment where senior citizens can feel connected, valued, and cared for.

J S Hospital serves the general public irrespective of caste and creed. At the same time, we recognise that Sadhus and Sadhvis from all religions follow religious obligations that call for separate rooms during their treatment.

To respect these obligations, we provide separate areas for our saints, so that they can receive the medical care they need with dignity and in keeping with their way of life.

Healthcare at J S Hospital is guided by the belief that every person deserves care that is accessible, respectful and compassionate. For Sadhus and Sadhvis, this means paying attention to the practices and obligations they follow, so that seeking treatment does not require them to set aside their way of life.

Making care accessible also means reaching people where they are. By arranging dedicated areas within the hospital and extending medical assistance to Upashrays and Ashrams, this initiative aims to make medical attention available to our saints in a manner that is comfortable, dignified and free of cost.

We have a program where we register donors who would like to contribute to various medical emergencies where the patient is in needs of funds for their treatments. We reach out to such partners and are happy to share that we always get their support.

These partners include Gujarat Sarvar Mandal, Hiramani Trust, Mahila Utkarsh, Smt. Rannaben Ajitbhai Shah, Dinsutaben, JITO, various Upashrays / Temple run organisations, etc.

Donor partnerships help make sure that a patient facing a medical emergency does not have to go without treatment for lack of funds. By working together, the hospital, its donor partners and the wider community share the responsibility of caring for those in need.

We request you to also enrol for this initiative where you can contribute to Medical Philanthropy. Please reach out to us on the Contact tab.

We offer tie-ups for medical facilities with Societies, Corporates, retail shops, etc for providing quick and efficient medical services to their members, especially senior citizens.

We have had tie-ups with institutions such as PRL, ISRO, Sumadhur 2 Society and Sankalan Neuro Rehabilitation Kendra Association to provide medical care to their employees or inmates.

Why medical collaborations matter

A tie-up between a hospital and the organisations its members belong to makes routine medical care easier to reach. When a society, corporate or association has an established link with a hospital, its members, especially senior citizens, know where to turn for medical services and can do so without delay.

Coordinated, patient-centred care

Good collaboration depends on clear communication between the hospital and the partner organisation, so that the needs of the people being served are understood and care can be arranged with them in mind. The focus remains on the patient: timely attention, clear information and a respectful care experience.

Please reach out to us on the Contact tab to tie up with us.

Gujarat Earthquake Relief – 2001

Following the devastating Gujarat Earthquake of 2001, J S Hospital came forward to support affected and needy people during this difficult time. The hospital extended medical services, essential assistance, food, and other necessary amenities to help those facing the aftermath of the disaster. This humanitarian effort reflected the values of compassion, service, and social responsibility that have guided Thakershy Charitable Trust for decades—standing with the community not only through healthcare, but also during times of crisis.

Flood Relief – 2002

During the challenging floods and heavy rains across Gujarat in 2002, J S Hospital stepped forward to support people affected by the difficult circumstances. The hospital extended medical services, food, essential amenities, and other necessary assistance to those in need. The effort was driven by a spirit of compassion and community service, providing care, comfort, and support at a time when many families were facing hardship. It reflected the commitment of Thakershy Charitable Trust to serve humanity not only through healthcare, but also by standing with the community during times of crisis.

Covid-19 And Our Contribution

The COVID pandemic broke out in Dec 2019 and hit Ahmedabad in March 2020, when we finally acknowledged the need to lockdown the entire India. It has affected human kind across the world. In these times, our Trust has risen to the occasion to help everyone. We were actively involved in supply of Tiffins, Food Packets and Medicines. We have also provided Home Care facilities for the elderly people during the entire period. Our teams consisted of MBBS doctors working under the guidance of MD doctor, well-trained medical & paramedical staff and in-house cooking teams. We were successful in treating 100+ patients with zero casualty.

By God’s grace and help from our well-wishers, we were able to conduct 3 COVID care centre and have treated 350+ patients over time.