| R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1916 |
| Principal | Dr. Parthajit Banerjee |
| Dean | Dr. Kalyan Chatterjee |
| Location | 1, Khudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata - 700004 |
| Affiliations | The West Bengal University of Health Sciences[1] |
| Website | www.rgkarmedicalcollege.org |
R. G. Kar Medical College & Hospital (আর. জি. কর মেডিক্যাল কলেজ ও হাসপাতাল) is one of the oldest medical college and tertiary care hospital of Kolkata, West Bengal in India named after the famous physician Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar [ ডা. রাধাগোবিন্দ কর ], the founder of the institution.
In 1886 after returning from United Kingdom, Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar [ ডঃ রাধাগোবিন্দ কর ] and some other reputed personalities like Dr. Mahendranath Benerjee [ ডঃ মহেন্দ্রনাথ ব্যানার্জ্জী ] , Dr Akshoy Kumar Dutta [ ডঃ অক্ষয় কুমার দত্ত ] , Dr Bipin Behari Moitra [ ডঃ বিপিন বিহারী মৈত্র ], Dr. M. L. De [ ডঃ এম্. এল. দে ], Dr. B. G. Banerjee [ ডঃ বি. জি ব্যানার্জ্জী ] , Dr. Kundan Bhattachayra [ ডঃ কুন্দন ভট্টাচার্য্য ] and others decided in a meeting convened on 18th October, 1886 to establish a medical school separate from the official institutions under the British rulers. 'Calcutta School of Medicine' was established from this decision at 161, Baithak Khana Bazar Road [ বৈঠকখানা বাজার রোড ] and soon moved to 117, Bowbazar Street [ বৌবাজার স্ট্রীট ].
In 1887, the name of the Calcutta School of Medicine was changed to "The Calcutta Medical School" in the month of August and the medical curricula of the Government School were adopted.
In 1889, a Society was formed and was registered under ACT VI of 1882. Dr. Lal Madhab Mukherjee [ লাল মাধব মুখার্জ্জী ] was elected President and Dr. R. G. Kar was elected Secretary of the Management Committee of the Calcutta Medical School. The medium of teaching was in Bengali and duration of study was of 3 years. The students used to attend Mayo Hospital for their training which was established in 1874.
In 1895, another non-official medical school named 'College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal' was formed at 294, Upper Circular Road, Calcutta. The period of study was 4 years and only 12 students were on the roll. This school had an indoor facility of 14 beds. In 1897, this school was moved to 228, Upper Circular Road, near Science College of Calcutta University.
In 1898 a plot of land was purchased at present site of College and Hospital at the cost of Rs 25,000/- between Shyambazar [ শ্যামবাজার ] and Belgachhia [ বেলগাছিয়া ]. A one storeyed hospital building was constructed at the cost of Rs. 70,000/- which had indoor facility equipped with 30 beds. A portion of the cost ( Rs. 15,000/- ) was received from the fund raised to commemorate the visit of Prince Albert Victor, and the building was named after him. The formal opening of the Albert Victor Hospital was done by Sir John Woodburn, the then Governor of Bengal in 1902. During 1902-1903, different departments were shifted to the new site.
In 1904, Pannalal Seal [ পান্নালাল শীল ] Outdoor Block was added to the Hospital at a cost of Rs. 12,000/- through a fund available from Babu Manick Lal Seal [ বাবু মানিকলাল শীল ] and was opened by Sir Andrews Frazer. In the same year. The Building Fund was enriched by a donation of Rs. 15,000/- from Maharaja Manindra Chandra Nandy [ মহারাজা মনীন্দ্র চন্দ্র নন্দী ], Bahadur of Cossimbazar [ কাশিমবাজার ] and Rs. 10,000/- from Babu Ramcharan Bhur [ বাবু রামচরণ ভর ]. A grant of Rs. 10,000/- was received from Government of Bengal. The two institutions were amalgamated and the name was changed to "The Calcutta Medical School and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal" and thus a medical school with a course of 4 years in Bengali and a college with a course of 5 years in English were in function.
In 1909, the second floor of the Albert Victor Hospital Building was constructed through a donation from Rani Kasturi [ রাণী কস্তুরী ] of Posta Raj Family at a cost of Rs. 37,000/- and the number of bed strength was increased to 100. The new Block was inaugurated by Sir Edward Baker, the then Governor of Bengal, who also announced a donation of Rs. 5,000/- as a mark of appreciation of the services rendered by the authorities. A donation of Rs. 20,000/- from Babu Debaprasanna Ghosh [ বাবু দেবপ্রসন্ন ঘোষ ] was also received.
In 1910, The Manmatha Bhattacharya [ মন্মথ ভট্টাচার্য্য ] Memorial Committee donated a sum of Rs. 9,000/- and a donation of Rs. 17,500/- was received from King Edward Memorial Committee.
In 1911, The Imperial Majestic King Edward V and Queen Mary donated a sum of Rs. 5,000/-, when they visited India. To cope with the increasing demand of the medical man power several other medical institutions were established by different prominent personalities of Bengal. The Government asked the different private medical institutions in Calcutta to unite to form an efficient teaching Institution and get it affiliated to Calcutta University.
In 1914, The Calcutta Medical School and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal came forward with a proposal to the Government and the Secretary of the State agreed to the proposal with certain conditions.
In 5th July, 1916, Calcutta School of Medicine and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal were merged into a single entity and renamed Belgachhia Medical College which was inaugurated by the then Governor of Bengal Lord Carmichael with its first batch of 48 students. The Calcutta University granted affiliation upto Preliminary Scientific M.B. Standard.
In 1917, The Calcutta University granted affiliation upto First M.B. Standard. They also granted permission for admission of 100 students. Raja D. N. Mullick Out Door Block was constructed to accommodate all the Out Patients Department except the Ophthalmology Department, which was housed in Pannalal Seal Dispensary.
In 1918, a society named as "Medical Education Society of Bengal" was formed for the better management of the Institution. Lieutenant Cornell S.P. Sarbadhikari was made the first President of the institution and Dr. R.G. Kar was it's first Secretary.
In 1919, in recognition of the gracious help from Lord Carmichael, the College was named after him as Carmichael Medical College. The college was granted affiliation upto Final M.B. Standard. Another floor was constructed on Albert Victor Hospital Building and Pannalal Seal Dispensary. The different College and Hospital departments were equipped with modern instruments. The University of Calcutta made a grant of Rs. 10,000/- and Government of Bengal donated Rs. 5,000/- to furnish the Laboratories.
In 1921, Lord Ronaldshey laid the foundation stone of the Surgical Building. The student of the institution Sri Hirendra Kumar Chatterjee [ হীরেন্দ্র কুমার চ্যাটার্জ্জী ] was placed First in Order of merit in the First M.B.Examination of the Calcutta University for the first time this year.
The construction of the Surgical Building was completed at a cost of Rs. 2,75,000/- and first batch of students passed Final M.B. Examination. A passed-out student Dr. Nirode Baran Mondal [ ডা. নীরদ বরণ মন্ডল ] was first appointed as the Demonstrator of Pathology of the Institution on the same year. Dr. Hirendra Kumar Chatterjee was placed First in order of merit in Final M .B. Examination of the Calcutta University for the first time and he also stood first in Surgery this year.
The donation of Sri Balaichand Dey [ বলাইচাঁদ দে ] amounting to Rs. 37,000/- made possible to acquire a plot of land at the eastern side of the boundary to have the isolation ward. The second storey was constructed at the cost of Rs. 28,000/- out of which the Cossipore Chitpur Municipality contributed Rs. 10,000/-. The 3rd floor was constructed through a grant of Rai Jnan Chandra Ghosh [ রায় জ্ঞান চন্দ্র ঘোষ ] of Rs, 1,00,000/- for the Nirmalendu Tuberculosis Sanatorium and a further amount of Rs. 14,000/- was raised by Dr. Bepin Behari Ghosh Memorial Committee.
In 1926, the Anatomical Block was constructed at a cost of Rs. 81,400/- out of which Rs. 50,000/- was received from the Government. A cold storage room was constructed for preserving the cadavers.
In 1927, Dr. Upendranath Banerjee [ ডা. উপেন্দ্রনাথ ব্যানার্জ্জী ], an ex-student of the college was appointed as the first Superintendent of the Hospital.
In 1931, for the benefit of the ailing students, a student infirmary was established by the Government of India.
In 1932, Bissumbhur Dutta [ বিশ্বম্ভর দত্ত ] Children Ward was established with a donation of Rs. 44,100/-. The Student's Union was formed this year, with Dr. Umapati Mazumder [ উমাপতি মজুমদার] as the first President and Dr. Sudhir Chandra Moitra [ সুধীর চন্দ্র মৈত্র ] as the General Secretary of the Student's Union.
In 1933, the first Psychiatry Out Patient Department in Asia was started as General Hospital Psychiatric Units under Professor Girindra Sekhar Bose [ গিরীন্দ্র শেখর বোস ]. The State Government was first approached for assistance in this endeavor by the Calcutta chapter of Indian Association for Mental Hygiene. It was proposed by the Association that adequate room be made available in the state-run Calcutta Medical College for the Clinic. The initial response was positive, but very soon it was made clear by the Government that the time was not yet ripe for it. Thereupon, the Association, under the leadership of Dr. Girindra Sekhar Bose, persuaded the authority of Carmichael Medical College to allow it to open a psychiatric outpatient clinic in the college premises. It was agreed that the Association would pay for the expenses of the clinic. The College authority, however, lent some furniture and arranged for supply of free electricity. Dr. Bose made an advance of Rs. 867.50/- to defray the cost of furnishing the Clinic and purchasing some essential instruments. The working hours of the Clinic was between 8-00 AM and 10-00 AM on every Tuesday and Thursday. The MO-in-Charge was Dr. Girindra Sekhar Bose. He had two other Medical Officers to assist him. They were Dr. Bhupati Mohan Ghosh [ ডা. ভূপতি মোহন ঘোষ ] and Dr. Kamakhya Charan Mukherjee [ ডা. কামাক্ষ্যা চরণ মুখার্জ্জী ]. All the members of the staff worked on honorary basis. The sole exception was a part-time bearer who received a monthly pay of Rs. 2/- (Rupees Two only). Though the Out Patient Department clinic was opened on 1st May, 1933 the first patient was registered on the following day i.e. 2nd May, 1933. The original case record of this patient is still preserved and displayed on the wall of the chamber of the Head of the Department of Psychiatry of R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. It is on record that 174 new cases attended the clinic during the first year of its existence.[3] In this very year, an ex-student of the college Dr. Bidhubhusan Bhattacharya [ ডা. বিধুভূষণ ভট্টাচার্য্য ] obtained the M.D. degree from the Calcutta University for the first time this year.
In 1935, Sir Dr. Kedar Nath Das [ ডা. কেদারনাথ দাস ] Maternity Hospitals was constructed at a cost of Rs. 4,45,000/- out of which the Government of Bengal donated Rs. 1,50,000/-, Calcutta Corporation donated Rs. 34,000/-, Lord S. P. Sinha of Raipur donated Rs. 31,000/- and Nijam of Hyderabad donated Rs. 3,5000/-. A college ex-student Dr. Amiya Kumar Sen [ ডা. অমিয় কুমার সেন ] obtained F.R.C.S. for the first time and on 1936 another ex-student Dr. Jahar Lal Ghosh [ ডা. জহর লাল ঘোষ ] obtained the M.R.C.P for the first time this year.
In 1937, the Biochemistry department was formed. This was then the first of its kind in an undergraduate institution in the country.
In 1938, another floor was constructed at the Surgical Block. The Tarak Ganguly [ তারক গাঙ্গুলী ] Block was endowed by Sri Lalbehari Ganguly [ লালবিহারী গাঙ্গুলী ] at a cost of Rs. 1,69,000/-.
In 1939, a separate Cardiology Department was established which was then the first of its kind in the country. Ex-students Dr. Umapada Mukherjee [ ডা. উমাপদ মুখার্জ্জী ] obtained the M.S. degree from Calcutta University and Dr. Siva Prasanna Misra [ ডা. শিবপ্রসন্ন মিশ্র ] obtained M.R.C.O.G. for the first time this year.
In 1940, Sir Niratan Sircar [ নীলরতন সরকার ] Research Institute was established. The Cardiology and Biochemistry Departments were accommodated on its ground floor. Raja Jaharlal Das [ রাজা জহরলাল দাস ] donated Rs. 16,000/- tor the creation of an Antenatal Unit. A college ex-student Dr. Sachchidananda Banerjee [ ডা. সচ্চিদানন্দ ব্যানার্জ্জী ] obtained Griffith Memorial Prize of the Calcutta University for the first time this year.
In 1941, the College celebrated Silver Jubilee Celebration. The foundation stone of Silver Jubilee Hall was laid by Sir Nilratan Sircar. Male Students' Hostel was constructed at the cost of Rs. 2,14,000/- this year.
In 1945, Dr. Sachchidanda Banerjee obtained the D. Sc. Degree and was awarded Coats. Medal of the Calcutta University for the first time.
In 1946, a student Sri Ranesh Chandra Chakraborty [ রণেশ চন্দ্র চক্রবর্তী ] acquired honours in all the four subjects in First M.B. examination of Calcutta University which was a record of the time.
In 12th May, 1948, the College was named after him as R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. That year in London Olympics, college students Mr. Talimeran Ao, Mr. Suhash Chatterjee [সুভাষ চ্যাটার্জ্জী ] and Mr. Bimal Chandra [ বিমল চন্দ্র ] were elected captain of the Football, Water polo and Swimming team of the country respectively.
In 1949, further two floors were constructed on Sir Nilratan Sircar Research Institute. The Bengal Immunity Therapeutic Block was opened by Dr. K.N. Katju, the then Governor of West Bengal.
In 1951, the third storey of the Students Infirmary was added. Dr. Hirendra Kumar Chatterjee was appointed the first Vice-Principal of the Institution. An ex-student Dr. Amar Sen [ ডা. অমর সেন ] did Partial Lobectomy operation in the surgical ward in this year, which was the first Thoracic Surgery operation in the city of Calcutta.
In 1954, the Nurses Hostel was constructed to accommodate 200 nurses and it was inaugurated by Lady Bangabala Mukherjee [ বঙ্গবালা মুখার্জ্জী ]. Ex-student of the college Dr. Binode Behari Roy [ ডা. বিনোদ বিহারী রায় ] had obtained the Ph.D. degree of the Calcutta University and Dr. Hirendra Kumar Chatterjee was elected to the Senate of the Calcutta University for the first time this year.
In 1958 the hospital was taken over by the Government of West Bengal.
It was formerly affiliated to the prestigious University of Calcutta. From 2003 academic year, it is under the affiliation of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences, a recently created university by the Government of West Bengal.
R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital is situated on a vast area surrounded by the East Canal Road in its west, Khudiram Bose Sarani to its south, the Circular Railway and Tala Railway Station at its east and Barrackpur Trank Road to its north.
At the north-east corner of the campus, there lies the seven storeyed Academic Building. Different academic departments like Departments of Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Forensic and State Medicine, Preventive and Social Medicine are situated in this building. The Library and Examination Hall remains at the first floor of the building. The office of the Students' Union and Doctors' canteen are situated at the ground floor of the building.
Just in front of the Academic Building lies the three storeyed Dr. M. N. Bose Anatomy Hall. At the ground floor remains the demonstration rooms, the cadaver preservation area and the Dissection section. On the first floor, the departmental office, staff rooms and teachers room are situated. There also remains the Anatomy Museum of the college where various specimens of human anatomy are preserved. On the second floor, the Histology Section and Dissection hall are present. The department's Lecture Theatre with Gallery facility is situated at the ground floor slightly separated from the main arena of the building.
Just beside the Anatomy Lecture Theatre, there lies the Autopsy Section of the college where post-mortem exmination are done under the supervision of the Department of Forensic and State Medicine. A morgue is also situated in the section to preserve the dead bodies.
Infront of the Autopsy section at the northern end of the college, a Platinum Jubilee Building is situated, which was inaugurated on 1st March, 2011 by the then finance minister of the state of West Bengal, Dr. Asim Dasgupta [ ডঃ অসীম দাশগুপ্ত ] in presence of Sri Kshiti Goswami [ ক্ষিতি গোস্বামী ], the then Public Welfare Department (P.W.D.) Minister as Guest-in-Chief. Sri Anwarul Haque [ আনোয়ার উল হক ] , Minister of State, Government of West Bengal, was presided over the programme. Dr. M.N. Roy, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal was present as Special Guest, and, Dr. S. N. Banerjee, Director of Medical Education & Ex-Officio Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare; Sri Goutam Mohan Chakraborty [ গৌতম মোহন চক্রবর্তী ], the then Commissioner of Police, Kolkata; Sri Nirmal Kr. Sarkar [ নির্মল কুমার সরকার ], Engineer-in-Chief, Department of P.W.D. & Dr. Ramendu Hom Choudhury [ ডা. রামেন্দু হোম চৌধুরী ] were present as Guests of Honour. The building contains a modern auditorium.
In front of the Anatomy Building lies the General Sura Shumsher of Nepal Administrative Block, where all the administrative works of the college and hospital are done. Here lies the Students Section, Accounts Section, Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, Principal's Office, Office of the Medical Superintendent cum Vice Principal and Principal Secretary's Office.
Just western to the General Sura Shumsher of Nepal Administrative Block, lies the three storeyed Surgery Building, where six surgical indoors and a operation theatre (O.T.) complex are present. There are six operation tables in the O.T. Complex which are run simultaneously for elective surgical procedures. A Post Operative Care Unit is present in this building to handle the post operative complications of the patients.
Southern to the Surgery Block, remains the Sir Kedarnath Das Maternity Hospital where the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics[5] of the college is situated. There is an Obstetric Emergency Room which runs 24 hours a day, an Out Patient Department (OPD) complex where patients are attended on out door basis and an antenatal outdoor for physical check-up for antenatal mothers. The department is equipped with one Labour Room with 6 labour tables, radiant warmers for new-born babies and an observation room for assessment of pre-labour mothers waiting for deliveries. In the labour room complex, there lies another observation room for pregnant women suffering from eclampsia. Two operation theatres are run whole day for gynaecological and obstetrical surgeries. A well-equipped Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for treatment of critically ill new-born babies under the supervision of department of paediatrics is situated in the building.
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences is situated eastern to Sir Kedarnath Das Maternity Hospital. This building was previously named as Albert Victor Hospital,but was reconstructed and renamed later. The well-equipped departments of Cardiomedicine and Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery are situated in this hospital building. An Artificial Valve Bank, which is second in the country after All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, is being operating from 2011. A re-canalisation unit, the one of its kind in entire North East India is functional under the supervision of Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics for post tube ligation patients, who want to re-conceive.
The eight-storeyed Dr. B. C. Roy Memorial Casualty Block lies eastern to Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences. The General Medicine , General Surgery and Orthopaedics Emergency Blocks are run 24 hours a day in its ground floor. The Department of Radio Diagnosis and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre also lies in the ground floor. This building contains Departments of General Medicine, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Psychiatry, Hemodialysis, Orthopaedics, Dentistry, Neurosurgery, Urosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Medicine and Gastroenterology are situated here. It also contains a well-equipped Blood Bank which provides service 24 hours a day.
Southern to the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences just by the side of Khudiram Bose Sarani lies the Radiotherapy building with an outdoor, an indoor, radiotherapy and brachytherapy facility targeted to the patients suffering from cancer. The department also started the HDR Interstitial Brachytherapy using Cobalt 60 source first in the world. The department has a future plans for installation of Linear Accelerator, installation of CT simulator with Virtual Simulation and construction of Mould Room, expansion of number of beds in the wards and starting of Tumor Board and Speciality Clinics.
Out Patient Department Complex is situated western to Radiotherapy Building and southern to Sir Kedarnath Das Maternity Hospital just by the side of Khudiram Bose Sarani. The outdoor facility of General Medicine, Paediatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopaedics and other departments are situated here.