Dr Biswanath Pattnaik is CMD of the Padma Hospitals, Bhubaneswar. A super specialist surgeon with a difference, he, after his voluntary retirement from Government service, set up th hospital, which is serving patients both from Odisha and outside States like West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand who come here for special general surgery. Dr Pattnaik’s name is synonymous with unmixed trust to the lower middleclass and middleclass people. He believes that a doctor is always there not to crucify humanity but to anoint its feet and that service to mankind is service to God. Deeply inspired by his late freedom fighter-father Raghu Pattnaik and by his late philanthropist-mother Padma Pattnaik, he is away from rank consumerist approach and serves his patients with love and dedication. Having had lost his parents at his infancy, he had been scraping along the pinching times facing chill penury on his journey to his profession and, therefore, has all sympathy for his patients. Over the last three decades, he has conducted critical operations with success at least to 20,000 patients. In an interview to The Pioneer, he spoke to Sugyan Choudhury about his journey and achievements.
What prompted you to choose medical profession?
You see, traversing down the memory lane, I remember that while I had been to attend to my ailing mother in the SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack, I was inspired by the care and concern of the doctors and by the dedicated services rendered by the nurses to my mother. Thereafter, I was determined to pursue this profession in my life.
When did you start medical profession?
After my Intermediate in Science from the Ravenshaw College, I was selected for MBBS at the SCB Medical College. I passed out in 1970. As jobs in Odisha then were not available, I joined as a doctor at the Durgapur CRPF under Government of India. Some days after, I was transferred to Salt Lake, Calcutta. I resigned from this job when I was selected to join as an Assistant Surgeon under the Government of Odisha. I served as an Assistant Surgeon in Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, and Padmapur in Bargarh district and later as a Specialist at the Municipality Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Then, I underwent training in laparoscopy at Hyderabad under Dr Nageswar Rao and had training in endoscopy at Calcutta. After having higher studies and research when I grew up as a super specialist, I resigned from the Governmental job and set up my grandiose enterprise Padma Hospitals. This enabled me to serve tens and thousands of lacerated human beings, bringing solace and comfort to their lives. That’s my satisfaction, a thing of beauty for me which is a joy forever.
The hospital is dedicated to the memory of my mother Padma. I may state that my father Raghu Pattnaik was a noted freedom fighter, who had carried freedom struggle from Odisha to Calcutta being inspired by Gandhiji.
May we have some idea relating to your specialisation?
I took MS degree as a specialisation in general surgery. Then, I had my higher studies in proctology that covers a wide range of subjects like MIPH, infrared coagulation and so on. I have completed all subjects coming under proctology including modern surgeries like laser and the like. I am also a member of the Indian Proctology Society.
Please tell us about the most memorable experience of your career.
I remember the silvery threads of my golden days as a surgeon at Padmapur and at Municipality Hospital, Bhubaneswar. My doors were open to my patients even after my duty hours. My patients being cured, who are quite old by now, still cherish me in their memory.
What are your other assignments?
My other preoccupations are that as a member of the Lions Club, I always lead health camps, blood donation camps, orthopaedic camps, health awareness programmes and the like to keep myself busy. Recently, I was honoured for my meritorious services by the Lions International under the insignia of the international president of Lions Club.
Why do patients from neighbouring States pour in at your hospital?
You can better understand from these patients, some of whom from Jharkhand and West Bengal are still undergoing treatment here. The first and foremost thing is that they have been attracted by the success rate of our surgery unlike they meet at their home States. Besides, our approach is humanitarian.
I have chosen to lead my carrier following the footprints of my father, who met his end in 1947 at Kolkata while leading the freedom movement there at the beck and call of Gandhiji.
What would be your message to the future generation of medical practitioners?
A teacher and a doctor are never paid. These two professions should always remain ideal for the future generations of our countrymen, unsullied by the rank consumerist culture of today’s modern world. I must say that the future generations of doctors of India ought to know that a surgeon’s knife is not only painful but also healing and full of love like the love of Jesus of Christ and like the blessings and benedictions of Lord Jagannath!