Staff Reporter :
Nobel laureate Professor Yunus has inaugurated the brand new NH Super Speciality Cancer Hospital in Mysore, built by Narayana Health Systems on in Mysore. Professor Yunus was especially invited by Dr. Devi Shetty, the well-known founder of Narayana Health who has built more than 32 hospitals all across India, to be chief guest at the event.
The cancer hospital is the latest addition to the NH multi speciality hospital, popularly known as Mysore Health City, which was built, inspired by Professor Yunus’s philosophy, to provide access to the best health care at lowest cost to people from low and lower middle income group. The hospital is built with least cost building materials, avoided multi-story construction, uses cross ventilation systems instead of air-conditioning in order to save on investment costs which are invariably passed on to patients, driving up hospitalization cost out of the reach of ordinary people.
Addressing a large audience at the inauguration ceremony, Professor Yunus congratulated Dr. Shetty for setting up yet another land mark in healthcare bringing top quality health services to the poorest people and make it affordable for them. The ceremony was attended by 500 participants including the local MLA, high level officials, dignitaries, and all the medical staff of the Health City.
Earlier in the visit, Professor Yunus visited Narayana Health in Bangalore to see the latest facilities of the hospital including a brand new cancer hospital and state of the art research facilities in the state capital. A large crowd received Professor Yunus as he arrived the hospital including large number of Bangladeshis who are there as patients or companions. According to hospital sources, an estimated annual amount of $150 million is spent by Bangladeshis for treatment at Indian hospitals. More than 700 patients come each month on an average to N Health Bangalore alone, primarily for heart and cancer treatment, spinal care and eye care.
Professor Yunus was taken around the new facilities by Dr. Shetty personally. Afterwards he delivered a lecture to a packed auditorium of doctors, nurses, medical personnel of the hospital about social business and how it can play a role in bringing three zeros – zero unemployment, zero poverty and zero net carbon emissions – to create a new civilization. Professor Yunus is accompanied on this visit by Lamiya Morshed, Executive Director of Yunus Centre.
Dr Yunus also inaugurated Centenary Celebrations at University of Mysore by delivering Centennial Lecture at University. It was celebrated as the beginning university’s year-long Centenary Celebrations. This year the university, with over 1,00,000 students, is completing its 100 years. Vice Chancellor Professor K S Rangappa sent a senior Professor earlier this year to Dhaka to personally invite Professor Yunus on his behalf to launch the Centenary celebrations by giving the Centenary Lecture on his vision on Redesigning Economics to Redesign the World. The lecture was attended by an audience of 1500 persons.
Professor Yunus launched the Centenary Lecture Series with a Nobel Lecture. First time in the history of the University, where second President of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan used to teach, had a Nobel Laureate giving a lecture. The Vice-Chancellor ceremoniously greeted him with traditional Peta (traditional Mysore) cap, shawl, and a detailed bust made of sandalwood.
Yunus addressed an audience consisting of former ministers, eight former Vice -Chancellors of the University, political leaders, businessmen, bankers, industrialists, NGO leaders, and graduate students. Professor Yunus lecture marked the beginning of centenary celebration. There are over 70 Bangladeshi students at the university where more than 1500 students from 60 countries are studying. Professor Yunus also visited the SBRR Mahajana First Grade College in Mysore to launch the Indian Chapter of the Social Business Academic Network. He also addressed faculty and students of the 75 year old College.
