We visited the Sambhavna Trust Clinic in Bhopal on Saturday, 19th January 2025. It is an inspiring place that offers free healthcare to survivors and exposed people of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and those suffering from groundwater contamination. The clinic is a unique blend of modern medicine with traditional therapies like Ayurveda and yoga, creating a holistic approach to treatment.
During our visit, we were fortunate enough to meet with Nitesh Dubey, overlooking patient registration in the clinic, who facilitated our visit and tour of the clinic campus. He took us to different units of the clinic and explained the functioning and impact of the clinic in detail. We also had the opportunity to meet Satinath Sarangi, the visionary behind the clinic and its trustee.
It was amazing to know how the clinic extends beyond just dealing with physical health issues to help survivors heal from mental and emotional trauma.
What really struck us was the clinic's focus on sustainability and its integration with nature. The whole setting is environmentally friendly and as told “chemical free” as it is for the survivors who are and were exposed to chemicals to start with, as medicinal plants are cultivated within the facility for treatment. The clinic harvests rainwater and operates on a biogas system, which uses organic waste instead of cow dung. Everything about their operations highlights sustainability and natural solutions.
The medicines produced at the clinic are fully natural and chemical-free. For instance, the medical department uses babul gum to bind tablets, latan oil to increase shelf life, and completely organic processes to create over 103 types of herbal medicine, including oils and churan (herbal powders). Each of these is prepared using traditional Ayurvedic methods.
We were clearly explained and shown the process for treating patients, which included a meticulous procedure to ensure no faulty medicines are prescribed and unnecessary diagnoses do not happen. The clinic exuded a comprehensive focus on natural treatments involving Ayurveda, yoga, etc. and a wonderful initiative is being done on their part to study the effectiveness of the natural treatments by being in constant touch with the patients.
By 17 January 2025, the clinic had treated a total of 37,232 people, including 26,038 exposed to the gas leak, 7,990 exposed to contaminated groundwater, 1,617 exposed to both, and 1,587 unexposed individuals. Though the treatment is all-inclusive, survivors of the 1984 tragedy have to present ration cards from those days for certain services.
The clinic runs with the support of various communities working together. Funding comes from multiple sources, including FCRA donations, and even children from the USA contributed funds to build a playground for the clinic. The collaborative efforts of volunteers, healthcare professionals, and community members reflect a shared commitment to serving those in need.
The infrastructure includes several well-organized departments, such as a library, research unit, medicine room, yoga center, and physicians’ consultation areas. Each department operates systematically, ensuring effective and high-quality care for patients.
Another unique feature we noticed was their innovative packaging of medicines, designed to simplify usage for patients. Medicines for conditions like blood pressure or diabetes are packaged in color-coded packets with clear markings for morning, afternoon, evening, and night doses. This ensures patients have complete clarity and no confusion in following their treatment.
This visit was truly an eye-opener, showing us how the Sambhavna Trust Clinichas established a compassionate and community-driven healthcare model. Their dedication to sustainability, natural medicine, and holistic care is a testament to their unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Bhopal's survivors. Seeing how much they have accomplished, and how they continue to serve with innovation and collaboration, was both humbling and inspiring.
We sincerely thank Rachna Dhingra mam, a social activist working with the survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in Bhopal. She helped us organize this visit and introduced us to the staff at the clinic.
Kaveri Singh and Homita Ganguly are final year students of Christ (Deemed to be University), pursuing BSc in Economics and Analytics. They are currently working as Research Analyst Interns at The Analysis.
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