Qadir Shaikh set up an 85-bed Covid-19 hospital for free treatment of the poor

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nce he recovered from the novel coronavirus, a businessman, Qadir Shaikh, wanted to set up a Covid-19 hospital with 85 beds to provide free care for the sick. He has converted his office space of 30,000 square feet into a Covid-19 hospital with 85 beds with oxygen facilities in Surat district, Gujarat.

Shaikh, speaking to The Indian Express (IE), said, “This Covid-19 hospital is for all regardless of caste, ethnicity or religion. I wasn’t raised with a silver spoon in my mouth … I had financial issues in the days before and I worked hard … I’m financially sound now. And during this global pandemic I thought of giving a helping hand to the vulnerable … My three sons and I have always helped poor people… Now I felt I should do something more… Hence the hospital”

Shaikh signed an agreement with Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to provide 15 ICU beds for medical personnel and equipment at the facility in Surat’s Adajan district. Surat Municipal Commissioner BN Pani and Dr Ashish Naik, SMC Deputy Health Commissioner, visited the premises and accepted the plan, IE said.

Shaikh called the hospital as Hiba Hospital, after his granddaughter. It has become ready and was visited on Tuesday by SMC departmental health authorities. IE quoted Dr Naik, “We saw the premises and considered it acceptable. The hospital will begin operating with patients referred from New Civil Hospital and SMIMER Hospital in the next few days

The Surat Islam Yatim Khana Society also wrote a letter to the district administration and municipal authorities seeking permission to establish a Covid-19 hospital where patients who are mild to moderately symptomatic can be treated. Previously the society had started a quarantine center on their premises and now they want to establish a dedicated Covid-19 hospital with the help of an NGO. A team from the SMC and the District Administration visited the campus on Monday and gave project approval.