Thiruvananthapuram  :

Dr Philip Augustine needs no introduction. For the people of Ernakulam, he was the man who put Koothattukulam Deva Matha Hospital on the map of world health services, when the gastroenterology department he set up there reported some of the rarest diseases in the world. Going forward, Dr Augustine helmed the campaigns to bring changes in the healthcare sector in the state. One of them was the setting up of the Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi in 2005, bringing together some of the brightest doctors in different fields.

Augustine has recently relinquished his post as the Director of Lakeshore Hospital and is all set enter a new phase of his career.

“I think I have reached a point in my life and career where I should focus on broadening my area of activity. As someone who has done a lot for the gastroenterology sector in Kerala, I wish to strengthen the field and inspire the younger generation of doctors to know more about it,” said the doctor.

He has launched Philip Augustine Associates, a firm set up to see his dream through. A subsidiary organization, Kochi Gastroentorology Group, has also been set up to bring together the knowledge of different branches of the field.

“I had three goals to fulfill in my career – setting up a good and world class healthcare facility, ensuring that top notch education facilities are made available for the medical students to learn and creating good research facilities for the advancement of the science. I have done a worthy share in the first two goals and now it is time to focus on the third,” he adds.

Augustine’s achievements

• Helmed campaigns to bring changes in the healthcare sector in the state
• Put Koothattukulam Deva Matha Hospital on the map of world health services, when the gastroenterology department he set up there reported some of the rarest diseases in the world
• Set up Lakeshore Hospital in 2005

Dr Augustine also feels that the rampant corporatisation of healthcare might not bode well for the sector. Even while lauding the innovations corporate hospitals have brought about, he thinks hospitals run purely with a profit motive is not a good idea.

”I am not against corporate hospitals, but I wish there is more space for small and medium hospitals to thrive alongside. That will be good for the public and the healthcare sector in general,” he adds.

Recently, Dr Augustine decided to take up  charge of running the PVS Hospital in Kochi and contribute to the gastroentorology department at the hospital, where he will be a consultant.

I think I have reached a point in my life and career where I should focus on broadening my area of activity. As someone who has done a lot for the gastroenterology sector in Kerala, I wish to strengthen the field and inspire the younger generation of doctors to know more about it 

-Philip Augustine

source: http://www.thenewindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express Features / May 03rd, 2016