Team Bharat Gaurav

Bharat Gaurav Pradip Sewoke - Caring for the others is what life means to him

Pradip Sewoke – whose surname means “servant of the people” in Sanskrit, a renowned Angio-plastici an in Franche-Comté (France), is the founder of the largest multidisciplinary Health Center (MSP) in France: the Lion Health Center in Belfort, opened at the end of 2020. This project takes on its full meaning in the very career of Pradip, who has always had the gift of uniting, with contagious enthusiasm and determination, around projects all having in common a sincere love for his neighbor.

He is born in Mauritianin 1960 to an Indian origin family, and grew up in the village of Sebastopol in the center-east of the island, on a farm built by his great grandfather whole ft India several decades ago. Nothing, however, undermines the courage of this close-knit Hindu family where the children grow up barefoot and happy, in the middle of lush nature. As a child, Pradip was already interested in the living, in the garden, in the life and death of animals, which he observed with insatiable curiosity. His school teachers at the time still remember the joyful little boy he was, passionate about nature.

After his Higher Secondary School Certificate in Science in Port Lous, he was employed at the Ministry of Finance. He told about his dream of becoming a Cardiologist to his department head who often talks to him about Dijon (France), the city where he studied and which he keeps close to his heart. Pradip's dream now has a name: he wants to study Medicine in the Bourgogne Franche-Comptéregion of France. For this purpose, and although he still does not have the money to afford even the price of the plane ticket, he went to the French Embassy to take successfully a French Language test. In case…

The love for Franche-Comtéregion (France)
Faithful to his childhood dream, he did not stop there and decided to specialize in Cardiology, passed the entrance exam and chose the Faculty of Besançon. He is happy to return on vacation to his home country to celebrate this beautiful news he had dreamed of for so long. It was there that he met Leenah, a biology student, whom he would marry a year later. She will join him in France and make together a beautiful family of 5 children from 1999 to 2008.

He obtained his naturalization to French on January 29, 2002. He served the public hospital with conviction until August 2014, when feeling they could not move forward fast enough, he put himself on leave from the public service, feeling hampered in his exercise by internal tensions for which he did not incline. He started practicing liberal cardiology with colleagues and then on his own. He still keeps a link with the Nord Franche-Comté hospital since he intervenes the every Wednesday in nuclear medicine, as an attached cardiologist, to carry out cardiac scintigraphies. But it’s in his function as the referent of the Coronagraphy and Angioplasty unit of the Mulhouse Clinic of the prestigious Diaconat Foundation that the flourished faster. He shares the values ​​of this private non-profit foundation, which consist of: “being at the service of others, working for the well-being of patients and acting daily in a spirit of the responsible initiative”. There he finds many young practitioners whom he trained during their internship in the department of the hospital, he has just left, they too are delighted to find their mentor, his good humor, his simplicity, his humanism, generosity, and his advice.

Always engage

Pradip has also been the sponsor of the French Cardiology Federation of Belfort since 2015 and, as such, supports “Heart and Health” actions. He willingly participated in these screening operations for cardiovascular diseases and public awareness. He still now accompanies the organizers and participants in walks which are a fun opportunity to train as many people as possible in first aid gestures, to raise awareness of the benefits of sport and to take the tension of each other, their sugar level, to detect diseases such as heart failure or diabetes. Certainly echoing his first Mauritian steps in the associative field, Pradip has also been Honorary President of the Belfort Glacis – Handiboxe Boxing Club since 2018. His patients are generally very attached and grateful to him. Thus, the Association of former paratroopers of Belfort awarded him its trophy last February "for his good medical care and attention given to the members and his humanism". All is said.

Pradip has accomplished his dream and wanted to share it with as many people as possible. He never forgot his origin from where he comes from. This is how he joined GOPIO France Paris (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) whose philosophy is contained in a sentence in Sanskrit: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which means that all of humanity is one big family. This association aims, in particular, to connect India to the host countries and creates interchange in the different domain between the countries. But it is undoubtedly the value of sharing knowledge and implementing humanitarian missions that most appealed to Pradip. He was elected international Coordinator for Europe of the GOPIO association in 2016. He used his powers of persuasion to create a Mauritian GOPIO which was on target for years of the leaders of the GOPIO International organization. He launched the GOPIO Belfort in the East of France.

The largest Health Center in France

As soon as he left the public hospital, Pradip had this idea. He wanted to fight in his way against medical desertification, to bring new doctors to Belfort, to associate practitioners who share a social philosophy of mutual aid, who were favorable for a benevolent and attentive relationship with the patient over anything else, to collaborate among themselves but also with the socio-medical actors of the territory, to promote the formation of their corporation and the development of research. He also wanted to complete the hospital, which was a curative place, with a preventive space by providing the best possible care to patients upstream. He dreamed, for them, of a place where they would receive care from a general practitioner to specialist, including all paramedical service professions, medical imaging, and biological analyses. He thus moved the lines of liberal medicine, to create emulation, to bring colleagues together around a social project before talking about profitability or profit. City medicine must evolve and unite.

When Pradip dreams, as we have seen, he dreams big and fast and gives himself the means to achieve his dreams. The first meeting took place in May 2018. Then in 2019, he created and chaired the association of health professionals in Nord Franche-Comté, and the Lion Health Center opened its doors in December 2020, the year when everything was however slowed down due to Covid pandemics. Once again, the determination of the child of Sebasto polover came with all the obstacles! The 4,000 m2 of premises are already occupied by 50 specialists, 8 general practitioners, and 18 paramedics, 50% of whom are new practitioners in Belfort.

To follow …

It would be a misunderstanding for Pradip to believe that he will stop there. Another part of the dream is already taking shape in his head: open this time, as an annexe to the Medical Health Centre (MSP), an unscheduled care centre which would relieve public emergencies, during the day and until the evening, of all minor accidents or ailments. Which encumber them. Coupled with an imaging and conventional radiology center and scanner, as well as the analysis laboratory already present on-site, this center would be an invaluable care tool for the inhabitants of the Territory.

Pradip liked for a long time, since his first two specialization courses in the North of Franche-Comté (France), the simple people of the Urban Area. He wants to give them back something of the welcome he received initially; he does not forget that after Belfort, he did an internship in Montbéliard and… already working on his mind the plans for the medical health Centre which could be of great help there too, to the population of the city of Princes and surrounding areas!

by Team Bharat Gaurav

Bharat Gaurav Dr Pratap Midha - Healthcare

Dr Partap Kumar Midha is the Medical Director & Trustee of Global Hospital & Research Centre, a not-for-profit healthcare trust initiated by the Brahma Kumaris, a worldwide spiritual and educational institution.

In 1991, J Watumull Global Hospital & Research Centre began as a humble endeavour to make healthcare accessible to the remote tribal, backward region of Mount Abu, Rajasthan and stands today as the largest healthcare provider in the district. Under his leadership, it has grown to 5 Hospitals, extensive Community Health programmes, 2 nursing education institutes, a geriatric facility, several Research Projects and more than 700 staff. The motto ‘Good health for all’ reflects the fact that no patient has ever been turned down for the sake of money, and medical consultations at all the facilities are offered free of cost.

Through his experience over the years, he has realized that improvements in the health status of a Community are dependent upon the citizens’ ability to earn a decent livelihood. 50% of the population in the district that he now serves lives below the Poverty line. Consequently, his work is now balanced between Prevention, Treatment and Community Development which includes vocational training, education and public health interventions.

The pursuit of 1) Exploring inner aspects of health, 2) Building connections between mind, body and medicine, 3) Discovering how one can achieve complete health, and 4) Guiding Healthcare Professionals to face rising challenges and pressures, led to the creation of the Medical Wing of Rajyoga Education & Research Foundation in 1992. As Vice President, he has been part of the team that organises several conferences to bring together thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals every year, with a focus on the well-being of the medical community-‘Caring for the Care-Givers’.

In recognition of his long-term commitment to a Spiritual Lifestyle and Service to Humankind, he was made a Member of the Brahma Kumaris Management Committee in 2018.

POSITIVE INFLUENCES IN CHILDHOOD: Dr Partap Kumar Midha was born to a middle-class Punjabi family, in Rohtak (State of Haryana), India. As the third child in a family of 5 siblings, sharing and caring were instilled as family values. His parents were adherents of the spiritual path taught by Brahma Kumaris and so the seeds of Tyag (renunciation), Tapasya (penance) & Seva (Service to mankind) were sowed in young Partap at the tender age of 11 years. He was fascinated with Brahma Kumaris philosophy and started spending his free time after school doing Seva in the ashram which laid the foundation for his selfless and altruistic lifestyle that later would become his purpose and ambition.

EDUCATION & EARLY PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS: Always a diligent student, he had aspired to be a doctor. His wish was fulfilled when he got admission to Government Medical College, Rohtak. He graduated as an MBBS Doctor in 1973. Despite having many attractive professional offers, he chose to take up a Government Job as it provided him with a direct opportunity to serve people in need. His first assignment as a doctor was in a small town at ESI Dispensary where he catered to the health needs of industrial workers working in the paper mill & sugar mill.

His later posting in a Rural hospital in Pinjore, Haryana, inspired him to work for common people and in turn, was touched by the simplicity and kindness of the villagers. During this time, he put in good efforts to create a national programme for the eradication of smallpox.

From 1979 to 1991 he worked in Chandigarh where he enhanced his clinical skills in emergency medicine, newborn care and newborn nursing. His management skills and abilities, honesty and strong character caught the attention of his superiors and he was invited to join the Management. He worked as a Deputy Medical Superintendent-cum-Administrative Officer in General Hospital Chandigarh from 1983.

Whether it was liaising with other hospitals for creating shared resource pools such as with PGIMER, Chandigarh or putting marked wartime wards to purposeful use and need of patients, his patient-centric work and innovative ways of addressing challenges to help the needy have been the cornerstone of his professional career.

MANIFESTATION OF A HOLISTIC HOSPITAL: In 1991, Dr Partap was invited by Brahma Kumaris to take over the responsibility of a newly constructed multi-speciality charity hospital that was being built at Mt. Abu, Rajasthan. His professional work experience combined with his spiritual background made him a good organizational fit.

From 1991 until 1996, Dr Partap worked on deputation of the Haryana Government at the newly built J Watmull Global Hospital & Research Centre, Mt Abu and eventually took voluntary retirement from the lucrative post of Deputy Director, Health Services, of the Government of Haryana in 1996 to serve full-time in providing leadership to the budding hospital at Mount Abu, and catering to the medical needs of one of the predominantly tribal region districts of India.

CREATION & SUSTENANCE OF MULTIFACETED PROJECTS: When the National Programme for Control of Blindness was announced in 1997 he came forward to join hands with the Government of India to augment the efforts of the Indian Government to eradicate the disease. The job was tough as weather conditions in the dry and desert state of Rajasthan account for an extraordinarily high incidence of preventable blindness. Thanks to his passion for community health, extensive cataract screening programs started in villages across four districts of Southwestern Rajasthan and thousands of people today have the gift of sight restored to their lives. Today there is not only an exclusive eye-care unit–a 60-bed P C Parmar Foundation Global Hospital Institute of Ophthalmology, but it is recognised as one of the best eye institutes in the entire region with more than 3000 cataract surgeries performed annually out of which 80% are free of cost to the patients. The neighbouring district of Jalore, from where half of the eye patients come, is home to a teacher who was so touched by the Hospital’s services that he bequeathed land and all his lifelong earnings to create the first eye hospital in Jalore! Today, the management team headed by Dr Partap manages this hospital. The work in eye care consisting of 2 dedicated eye hospitals, and 4 vision centres makes it one of the biggest ophthalmology service providers in the region.

In 2001, when Tuberculosis was emerging as a killer disease in rural regions, Dr Partap inspired Global Hospital to be registered under the government DOTS programme as a Centre for microscopic examination and treatment of tuberculosis patients. The programme is implemented through the Village Outreach Program and Community Outreach Project that caters to the health needs of the tribal and rural population of at least 10,00,000 people residing in 100 plus villages adopted under these projects.

Today along with providing health check-ups and medication to children from poor families studying in Government schools in remote villages, Dr Partap has ensured that they get proper nutrition, school supplements, and warm clothing in winter as well.

Whether it was the 2001 Gujarat (Kutch, Bhuj) earthquake Tsunami in 2004 or the 2013 Uttarakhand flash floods and many other similar tragedies, the Global Hospital team has played an integral role not only during the disaster but in its aftermath too. Dr Partap took initiative along with Brahma Kumaris and extensively campaigned for raising funds to manage a government-assigned project: the reconstruction of a Community Health Centre at village Lakadiya in earthquake-ravaged Bachau District with contributions and support from Gurjar Gujarati Association of New England (U.S.A), Children’s Hope India (U.S.A), Nargis Dutt Foundation (U.S.A) and other individual donors.

Currently Medical Director of J. Watumull Global Hospital & Research Centre.
Dr Partap’s responsibilities cover the following activities,

• Managing the existing services of the hospital
• Functioning as a co-coordinator between the Board of Trustees and the Administrative staff. This requires ensuring compliance with the overall guidelines set down by the Board.
• Managing the development of new services, ensuring the timely implementation of new projects and following up on their progress.
• Managing the activities of the P C Parmar Global Hospital Eye Care Centre/ Global Hospital Institute of Ophthalmology, Radha Mohan Mehrotra Global Hospital Trauma Centre & G.V. Modi Rural Health Care Centre,all of which are at Abu Road and of the Brig. Vora Clinic at Baroda, which all are extensions of GHRC.
• His role has been of a facilitator, giving inputs as a catalyst for various projects. The Global Hospital started as Polyclinic with makeshift Wards & OT in October 1991.

Today it has grown to:

• 102 bedded multi-speciality secondary care Hospital.
• The hospital has a holistic approach to patient care including:
• Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Magneto therapy, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Yoga,
• Aerobics, Meditation.
  • Rural Health Care Centre in Abu Road, 1994.
  • A multi-speciality hospital in Mumbai.
  • Global Hospital School of Nursing, November 2005
  • 60 bedded C. Parmar Foundation Global Hospital Eye Care Centre, September 2007
• Radha Mohan Mehrotra Global Hospital Trauma Centre, September 2007, 36 bedded with full-time consultants/specialists and staff.
• Servicing about 60 villages through 2 Mobile Clinics, 3 Out-post Clinics and Village Outreach Services
• School Health Programmes
• Research (Currently 10 projects)
• Saroj Lalji Mehrotra Global Nursing College, Talati, Abu Road, November 2011
• Shri Adinath Fateh Global Eye Hospital, Jalore

Dr Partap Midha is also a Life Member of 1) The Indian Society of Health Administrators, Bengaluru, 2) Academy of Health Administrators, New Delhi, and 3) Indian Medical Association.

Dr Partap Midha has delivered lectures at

• The Zurich Lung Association Conference on Tuberculosis,
• Sophia Hospital, Amsterdam,
• Numerous Health-Awareness campaigns on the theme: ‘Heart of the Healer’
• Medical Conferences were held at the Academy for a Better World, Gyan Sarovar Complex, Mount Abu, as well as at Brahma Kumaris Shantivan, Abu Road, Rajasthan, as Vice-President of the Medical Wing of the Rajyoga Education & Research Foundation, on the theme of ‘Positive Health & Effects of Meditation on Health’,
• Local Centres of the Paramilitary forces, C.R.P.F.

Dr Partap Midha continues to exercise courage, and strong moral fibre to stand united with his teams in sustaining the unique, high-quality, cost-optimized, value-based, sustainable, holistic organization, fondly called ‘the Hospital with a big heart’, which enjoys quality accreditation of NABH and NABL and recognition on local, state, national and international levels.

As an experienced meditator with an understanding of deeper spiritual truths, Dr Partap has exemplified ‘Healing with Spiritual Touch’. Dr Partap firmly believes that our work must always go on no matter what, and medical services to the people should continue unhindered.

by Team Bharat Gaurav