With Folded Hands: Our Thanks to Sohana Hospital

BookMedTrip exists because of a hospital in Sohana, Mohali. Sohana Hospital has saved my father's life — not once, but around half a dozen times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when our family, like so many families, was struggling, its doctors, nurses and staff stood by us. My father is alive today because of them. This page is our thank-you, offered with folded hands.

— Harry Singh, founder, BookMedTrip

A Hospital Built on Seva

Sohana Hospital was founded by Panth Rattan Bhai Sahib Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Khalsa (Khannewale). The trust behind it was constituted on 27 July 1993 with one clear aim: a modern hospital at Sohana that would serve every patient, regardless of caste, creed or religion. It began, in 1995, as the Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib charitable eye hospital, named after the eighth Sikh Guru, remembered for caring for the sick.

From the start it worked on a simple, generous principle: pay if you can. Patients who could afford treatment helped to cover those who could not, so that nobody was turned away. Bhai Sahib was inspired by Sant Attar Singh Ji of Mastuana Sahib and Sant Niranjan Singh Ji of Patiala, and he lived next to the hospital at Gurdwara Akal Ashram, Sohana, which he built with the local sangat. He passed away on 14 October 2006 — at the hospital he founded. His work continues under the present chairman, Bhai Sahib Bhai Devinder Singh Ji Khalsa (Khannewale).

“Nanak naam chardi kala, tere bhane sarbat da bhala.”

From the Sikh Ardas: with Your name comes rising spirit — and by Your will, the welfare of all.

From an Eye Hospital to Everything Under One Roof

Three decades later, Sohana Hospital has grown into a large multi-speciality hospital — and, in our family's experience, one of the kindest anywhere.

• 400beds on a 7.5-acre campus in Sector 77, Mohali
• 30+specialities, with super-specialist care
• 1,500+staff, including more than 150 doctors
• NABH · NABLaccredited, with centres in Mohali, Ludhiana and Khanna

Its Sohana Cancer Research Institute, with day-care chemotherapy and brachytherapy, brings advanced cancer care to families who once had to travel far for it. Eye care, the work it began with, remains at its heart.

The Journey

1. 1993The trust is constituted on 27 July by Bhai Sahib Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji Khalsa, to serve every patient regardless of caste, creed or religion.
2. 1995The hospital begins serving patients at Sohana as a charitable eye hospital, on a pay-if-you-can basis.
3. 2006Bhai Sahib passes away on 14 October. The sangat and his successors carry the work forward.
4. TodayA 400-bed hospital with 30+ specialities, the Sohana Cancer Research Institute, and centres in Mohali, Ludhiana and Khanna.

Sarbat Da Bhala — What It Taught Us

When we started BookMedTrip, we asked ourselves what kind of company we wanted to be. The answer was already in front of us at Sohana. Our own Pay If You Can programme and our Care Fund — which receives part of the 10% of our net profit we give back — follow the same idea: those who can, help those who cannot, and nobody in genuine need is turned away for our fees.

If you are travelling to the Tricity for treatment, we explain why Chandigarh is a calm city to heal in — and how the hills nearby, from Tirthan to Prashar Lake, can help you recover once your doctor agrees.

With Folded Hands

To Bhai Sahib's memory, to the present leadership, to every doctor, nurse, technician, cleaner and volunteer at Sohana, and to the sangat that keeps this seva alive: thank you. You gave our family more time together. Everything we do at BookMedTrip carries a little of what we learned from you.

ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਸਹਿਤ, ਧੰਨਵਾਦ — with respect, thank you.