Dayanand Rai
Ranchi: The story of Ranchi, which came into existence during the British rule, is interesting. According to historical facts, Ranchi Dispensary was established in the year 1855, its in-charge was an Indian doctor for a long time. The doctor was paid from the fees collected from the local people. In the year 1872, health services expanded in Ranchi and a new hospital was opened here which had the facility to admit 18 patients. That year, 146 patients were admitted to this hospital and 1789 patients were treated in its OPD.
Over the subsequent twelve years, the hospital expanded and developed into a kutcha building. Its size had increased. In 1913, two wards for infectious diseases were completed here. In 1914, a new OPD building was completed here at a cost of Rs 20,000. This hospital came under the Civil Surgeon and in the year 1915, 17466 patients were treated in this hospital. After Ranchi, dispensary was established in Lohardaga in 1881. Later it was expanded by spending Rs 15,000. Later, dispensaries were opened in Bundu and Chainpur in the year 1902, Gumla in 1903, Silli in 1906 and Khunti in 1907.
This was the time when King Edward was ruling England. The most successful private dispensary at that time was being operated in Murhu. It was run by the SPG Mission and also received grants from the Zilla Parishad. This dispensary was opened by Rev. Dr. Kennedy in 1905. The Elizabeth Dispensary operated in Ranchi was run by the Lutheran Mission. Vaccination was started in Ranchi in 1867.