National award for Bel-Air

The Bel-Air Hospital in Panchgani, managed by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), has received The Times of India Healthcare Achievers Award 2014 in the category "Innovation in managing long term conditions,” mentions an email received from Homai Modi, honorary secretary of IRCS Maharashtra State Branch and Bel-Air Sub-Committee.

(L-R): Fr Tomy, Homai Modi, Joy Chakraborty, Ram Vilas Paswan, Lov Verma and D. Srinivasan

The award was presented to Modi and Father Tomy Kariyilakulam of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) who is director of the Bel-Air Hospital, by Ram Vilas Paswan, union cabinet minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution at a function held at Hotel Shangri-La’s Eros in New Delhi on December 11, 2014. Also present at the function were health secretary Lov Verma and Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, goodwill ambassador for good health who emphasized the need for spiritual healing, mentions the email.
The Award is an initiative of The Times of India and New India Assurance Company to celebrate achievements and provide recognition to healthcare providers with dynamic spirit and an innovative outlook. The selection entailed short listing by the organizers, a presentation to the jury in Bombay with other finalists and finally a survey of the Hospital. Bel-Air was selected for the national award from among 150 hospitals across India. Among the 24 other hospitals which received awards in various categories were top corporate ones like Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Apollo Hospitals in Calcutta and Madras, Fortis Hospital in Delhi and Ruby Hall Clinic in Poona.
Bel-Air Hospital, established in 1912, was at one time the most well-known tuberculosis sanatorium in India. In 1964 its management was transferred to the IRCS by founder Dr Rustom Billimoria and the then trustees. The Hospital declined and was on the verge of closure when in 1994 the MCBS took over the administration and Fr Tomy, along with the IRCS, embarked on a project to revamp and modernize it, Modi states.