This Worli doctor made the best use of technology to help the civic body as well as the state government successfully handle the fight against the pandemic
During pre-COVID days, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala used to conduct close to eight bariatric surgeries every day
Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, 51
Bariatric surgeon was the force behind the civic body’s NSCI jumbo COVID centre, which later became a role model for other such facilities across Mumbai
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When the COVID pandemic hit Mumbai, famous bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala knew the viral outbreak would stress the healthcare infrastructure everywhere, halting many surgeries. While many of his colleagues were forced to take a break and continue with online consultations, Dr Lakdawala joined the BMC and state in their fight against the virus.
He helped set up the BMC’s NSCI jumbo centre, which became the model for similar facilities across Mumbai. Dr Lakdawala also became a primary doctor of the Thackerays when the first family was down with COVID.
“In principle, all doctors have studied basic medicine and taken a vow to basically try and alleviate the pain of another person. It was the love for my city that made me decide to volunteer my services for COVID management in last March,” said Dr Lakdawala.
Dr Lakdawala with minister and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray at the NSCI jumbo COVID centre. Pics/Ashish Raje
Worli, where he lives, was a hotspot in the initial days of the pandemic. He set up a quarantine facility at the BMC’s public parking lot before helping the civic body start a COVID care centre at Poddar Hospital. Dr Lakdawala roped in seven doctors and 24 nurses initially. “Once Poddar became a success, I was asked to help with the NSCI dome. We managed to set up 589 beds at NSCI,” said Dr Lakdawala.
It was during the pandemic that Dr Lakdawala, 51, found his true calling in revolutionising the healthcare space with digitisation. “Back then the RT-PCR testing capacity was not adequate,” he said, about the beginning of the pandemic. “I decided to use artificial intelligence and X-ray to predict whether the disease is likely to worsen as well as detect who is more likely to contract the infection in quarantine. The technique enabled us to swab-test the right patients, even when they are asymptomatic. It helped during those days when RT-PCR tests were not done so much and we couldn’t do mass CT scans,” said Dr Lakdawala.
Knowing that he didn’t have the resources to match the patient-healthcare worker ratio, the doctor adopted AI and contactless patient management at NSCI.
Believing strongly that Mumbai’s healthcare model needs to change from a reactive one to a more proactive and predictive mode, Dr Lakdawala joined the Reliance Foundation Hospital last September to focus on research.
“AI and remote monitoring of patients in a pandemic gave me the hope that there is a lot that can be done in digitising healthcare which can help rural India,” he said.
On the personal front, he became the proud father of twins (Lakdawalla is also father to Kiaan, Zhiaan and Kiara). I used to meet my son and wife from a distance, and slept many nights in the clinic. I didn’t earn much during those eight months, and worked more than I usually do. But I was content that my city was getting better and I had a role to play,” said Dr Lakdawala.
On getting to know the Thackerays, he said, “When I volunteered my services in the pandemic, I didn’t know them. Now, I can say that I have seen the pandemic through the eyes of a surgeon, a volunteer and also as a politician. We blame the government for everything; that’s not appropriate. There are challenges that are far bigger than what you and I can understand. I am glad that Mumbai andMaharashtra’s battle with COVID was recognised and appreciated by experts and the courts. That says a lot about the leadership.”
Also Read: Mumbai: Relatives of Covid-19 victims ask govt to not rub salt on their wounds
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