Homoeopathic Hospital Experience - Palghar, India.
In December 2005, sixteen Australian Homoeopathic Practitioners from Melbourne and Brisbane set out on a journey overseas, to partake in an intensive program at the MLD Dhawale Memorial Homoeopathic Hospital in Palghar, India. This hospital was named after the late Dr. Dhawale, who was the teacher and mentor of our colleague; Dr. Dixit. Dixit visited Australia to facilitate intensive homoeopathic programs in Australia for many years. We set off for the experience of a lifetime, arriving in Mumbai, on New Year's Eve. After spending time wandering the city and feasting, and welcoming the new year with fireworks, we stayed in a local hotel. We arose early to travel by bus to the rural village of Palghar, a few hours drive from Mumbai.
We were welcomed by our mentor, Dr. Dixit, and were then free to settle ourselves, because the intensive program was due to start the next day. This was on the 2nd of January, which also was my birthday! I was also quite jet lagged!
We were awoken by the servants early with a warm chai, made the traditional Indian style, with chai spices boiled in a pot with milk and sugar or honey. We attended early morning lectures, mainly revision of clinical examination. Then we had hospital rounds. We were to visit various departments of the hospital each day. We were allocated to various departments, on rotation.
The Screening department, similar to a triage, where the patient screening and intake occurred, is the first department for any prospective hospital patient. They often wait hours in the hospital on arriving, before they are seen by the homoeopathic doctors. When they are seen, a brief synopsis of their medical complaint is taken and they are admitted to the wards if the condition is deemed serious, otherwise they are given a remedy to take home, and are referred to the appropriate outpatient department (OPD) for an appointment in three days time.
We were rostered onto the various OPD's for most of our clinical observation timetable.
There are various outpatient departments in the hospital including rheumatology, psychiatric, paediatric, HIV and AIDS, neonatal care as well as general outpatients department. When the patient returns after their intake visit, a junior homoeopathic doctor usually takes the patient case history, along with one or two of us Australian visitors sitting in the room, observing. Sometimes multiple junior doctors are in the room or the senior homoeopathic doctor. Sometimes quite a few physicians and students are in the room at the same time. This can sometimes be up to ten people in the room with the patient, but this is not a deterrent, as the patients have an absolute respect for the doctor in India. History is taken in the patient's preferred language. The junior doctor then discusses the case with the senior doctor in another room, in English, and the treatment protocol is discussed.
We observed various conditions being treated with homoeopathy alone, including skin conditions, arthritic complaints, depression, children's ailments, tuberculosis, tropical disease and other serious illnesses. There were also a few babies being born as well as surgical procedures being undertaken during the duration of our stay.
After lunch and siesta we had afternoon and evening lectures. There are various visiting doctors who have various specialities, who gave us lectures on various topics of interest. Being an intensive program, we always had homework and case studies to prepare in our limited spare time. However, when we did have time to spare, we were allowed to go to the markets and town of Palghar.
We had a visit to a hospital in a neighbouring village, Bhopole, where there is a smaller hospital. The junior doctors had to rotate rounds at this hospital, including night shifts, however us visiting homoeopaths were there for a day visit. We toured the hospital as well as the homoeopathic mobile van. This van had a section at the back for the patient and doctor to sit and take the case, plus all the homoeopathic remedies and patient files were packed into neat drawers implanted into the van. We visited the local community health centre, where the junior doctors discussed the programs they carry out there. Then we went out into the community, and attended some domicillary care with the doctors. This was for elderly people and other families who could not attend the hospitals in person. It was interesting to see how the families lived. Their homes were little huts build on clay ground. However they were neat as a pin, kept in impeccable order. Adult and children alike seemed happy and full of joy, despite not having many possessions, and having to work hard for what they had. Everywhere we went, there were lots of bright colours, the women were dressed in bright coloured saris, and even the men were colourful, quite refreshing from the usual Melbourne black or dull monotone colours.
Overall, attending the intensive was an incredible experience for us all. We learnt a lot, and the Indian student doctors said they found us to be an excellent learning experience, in the way we approached the cases presented too. I would highly recommend any budding homoeopath to attend an educational program in a homoeopathic hospital in India. The learning experience is incredible, and no doubt it will be the trip of a lifetime, with many lasting memories like I have.
On our final evening, we celebrated with a special dinner with the Indian doctors, students and ourselves. We then parted and headed back to the airport by bus, to also part our own ways. Each of us had our own destinations to go to, some travelled, others heading back to Australia. I was able to visit a good friend and her family in Goa which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then finally it was time to head back to Australia.
Many memories from India remained, for a very long time. Along with colleagues, we pioneered a outpatients clinic at the Sacred Heart Mission Clinic in Saint Kilda, Melbourne. This volunteer clinic was designed to help new homoeopathy graduates to gain experience with homoeopathy, as well as unusual case presentations not usually seen in regular clinics. This clinic prevailed for many years. Unfortunately, the clinic closed, however it remains a very prominent learning experience for myself and other young homoeopaths for over ten years.
