FIRST: Sassoon General Hospital awarded 80 G exemption certificate

Pune; Sassoon General Hospital is to be lauded for becoming the first government healthcare facility in the country to be awarded the 80 G exemption certificate. Donors whether individual or organizations, who donate to this government health hub will be given the benefit of tax exemption under 80 G of the Income Tax Act.

Motivated by the Sassoon model, the government has asked other state run medical college hospitals to emulate, in order to improve healthcare services.

"Till today, tax exemption for donations under 80 G was mainly limited to non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Sassoon General Hospital is perhaps the first government institution to get 80G certificate in India and other government-run medical colleges attached hospitals should emulate this model. We have already directed them to follow suit," said Praveen Shingare, Director, Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER).

DMER supervises the working medical and dental colleges, teaching hospitals and health units. The body also controls and regulates the administration of government medical colleges and hospitals in the state.

Ajay Chandanwale, a senior spine surgeon and Dean, B J Medical College,which is attached to Sassoon General Hospital, told the TOI, "It took us almost four years to complete the task and get the 80G certification. To bring the hospital to super specialty level involves huge expenditure. The 80G facility will encourage public participation, thereby improving the services offered by public hospital. "

The Sassoon OPD has a footfall of 7 lac patients annually; while the inpatient number is 70,000 per year. These patients are in need of medical treatment ranging from minor to super specialty medic are.

"In view of the proposed cancer hospital for poor and various other services that need to be scaled up, we appeal to the people to come forward and donate generously," said Chandanwale, who took over charge in May 2011 and became the initiator for getting in donations for the hospital.

The hospital’s various medical initiatives include: human milk bank for orphans, a shelter for patient relatives and a hemophilia centre for free treatment of patients with blood disorder. All these have come up with the help of the citizens of the state.