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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
K.B.H. Bachooali Charitable Ophthalmic & ENT Hospital, Parel, Mumbai
(A historic charitable institution in the heart of Mumbai, known for its massive community outreach and high-volume cataract surgery.)
STIPEND & ACCOMMODATION
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹22,000
- Accommodation: Not provided. Fellows must arrange their own housing in Mumbai, which is a significant financial consideration given the stipend and the hospital’s location in Parel.
- Meals: Usually available in the hospital canteen at charitable rates.
DURATION
18 Months (1.5 Years)
(Note: No short-term Phaco training is offered here; only the long-term fellowship.)
HONEST REVIEW
- Intake: Two fellows per session.
- The “First 3 Months” Grind: This is the most intense period. New fellows must perform camp workups every day, often staying until 10:00 PM to finish extensive paperwork for the 20–30 patients arriving from outreach camps.
- Surgical Progression:
- Months 1–6: Focus is entirely on SICS. You can expect roughly 2 cases per OT, totaling 25–30 cases per month.
- Months 7–18: Phacoemulsification is introduced based on your learning curve. By the end of the 18 months, you will have performed approximately 100 Phacos.
- Clinical Workflow:
- Structure: Alternate days of OPD and OT.
- OPD: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Focus is heavily on cataract screening and referrals to other sub-specialties.
- OT Volume: The hospital handles a massive daily list of approximately 50 cases.
- Mentorship: Highly rated. Senior consultants are described as “patient teachers” who are willing to assist in wet lab sessions to help you refine your technique and correct errors.
- Work Culture & Duties:
- Hours: Extremely long on call days (7:00 AM – 10:00 PM). On non-call days, work usually wraps up by 5:30 PM.
- Calls: Call frequency is every 3rd day, requiring you to stay overnight at the hospital.
PERSONAL OPINION
KBH Bachooali is a “Surgical Endurance Test.” It is one of the busiest charitable hospitals in Mumbai. While the stipend is low and the paperwork is heavy, the volume of SICS and the quality of the wet lab mentorship are excellent. It is ideal for a candidate who wants to be “baptized by fire” in a high-volume setting and is looking to build a rock-solid foundation in manual SICS before moving to Phaco.
