Death of 18 patients in Kalwa Hospital in less than 24 hours has exposed the lack of public health infrastructure in Thane district. Of the patients who died, 10 had come from outside Thane city and four from Kalyan-Dombivali. At the same time, each and every small village coming in this district is giving the foremost example for its remarkable achievement. There are about 30 families living in Gharivali village on the outskirts of Kalyan Dobinvali and 20 of these families have qualified doctors. Apart from this, there are 5 people whose children will take MBBS degree in the next few years. This village is called Doctor’s village, i.e. village of MBBS doctors.
Let us tell you that Kalyan Dombivli has limited medical infrastructure. If there is an emergency, people here have to go to private hospitals near Dombivali, 5 km away. Even today there are very few primary health centers and even if there are, there are not complete facilities. The success story of Gharivali village started in the year 2000 when Sanjay Patil obtained MBBS degree for the first time in this village.
With this achievement of his, other youths of the village also thought of going ahead and in this profession. Dr. Sanjay Patil studied in Zilla Parishad government school and completed his studies through scholarship. Most of the children here study in local schools. Recalling his days of struggle, Patil says his father passed away when he appeared for the HSC exams and his brother helped him with his studies. Today I am helping the youth of my village. I myself have 5 doctors in my family.