Maple leaf hospital is located amongst the scenic kangra valley at the height of 3500fts enclosed by the beautiful Dhauladhar range showing its majestic presence. The hospital has served this valley for more then five decades and has been in service of the people since the year 1907 when it was founded by Canadian missionaries under the supervision of Rev.Canon Robert Henry Albert Haslam (1872-1953) and his wife Dr Jean Haslam.
During the 1905 major earthquake which rocked the township of Kangra ,everything was destroyed and an estimated 20000 lives were lost. It was started as clinic and having an out patientdepartm-ent and had 7 private room wards on the other side of the hill called the "Khud Wards".
The location was then later shifted to the place where it stand even today. Previously it had three wards and later in 1924 it became a necessity to have an indoor patient department also. At that time it dealt with mainly delivery cases. A 10 beded ward was introduced which gave the starting to the hospital which was then called the Zanana Mission Hospital. Gradually the work of the indoor patient department increased with the increasing no. of patients. Many Doctors came to serve in this hospital including Dr Abdullah, Dr.Moon and Dr Jackson.
In 1936 Dr. Florence Haslam came from Canada to take over the medical work as missionary doctor. Dr Jackson handed over the hospital to Dr Florence and herself took on the mobile dispensary jeep. With this the bed strength was increased from 10 to 80 and the whole hospital was turned into earthquake proof modern facility. Her ability as an excellent doctor and a very capable surgeon gave her a reputed name throughout the entire Kangra district. She served in this hospital from 1936 to 1974. Sister mcnaughten had also joined the hospital and gave her service to this institution and after her name a ward was named which was called the “Mac Ward” which still exists to date. She was the daugther of Lord Mcnaughten of Ireland and her mother was the first cousin to Queen Victoria.She served in this hospital till the early 30's after which she left.An European ward was also introduced which was used as a military ward for the patients who came from the near by Army cantonment in Dharamshala
The present hospital was inagurated in the year 1958 by the Canadian High Commissionar in India and from that time the hospital has been logged under the name of Maple Leaf Hospital , the name itself representing the Canadian emblem. The hospital was registered under the Registration of socities Act XXI OF 1860. The hospital later merged into the Church of North India which is under the Diocese of Amritsar . The hospital chairman is Rt Rev Bishop P.K.Samantaroy Bishop of Amritsar .
In the year 1946 Dr A Nilam joined the hospital as a Medical Officer and also continued to extend her duties as a missonary doctor. In 1973 the authority was handed over from the Canadians to the Indian authority. Dr A Nilam became the doctor-in-charge and to lend support for the work Sister Bansilal who had joined in the year 1945 started her work as Nursing Supdt. Sister Bansilal has ever since been working till now in this hospital to date and continues to work as Nursing Supdt. In 1974 Sister Minz joined the working staff and voluntarily retired in 1999. In 1981 Dr.Paul took over as the Medical Supdt . also working for a missionary cause. Dr A Nilam who still worked in the hospital took over as the Treasurer of the hospital. In 1982 Dr Mrs N Paul joined the hospital and took over the Dept. of Gynaecology and obstretics.Both Dr Paul and Dr Mrs Paul still are working till date and the hospital has expanded ever since to reach new horizons in providing basic medical care to the patients according to their needs and also undertaking of other major operations of groundbreaking feet which never took place before in the hospital.
The number of beds were increased from 80 to 100 beded hospital and many building extensions have taken place with the building of separate OPD for general patients and separate for Gynae dept. Today the hospital is equipped with xray machines, Ultrasound (abdominal + trans-vaginal ), Computerised ECG ,phototherapy, Computerised laboratory testing and other updated equipments.
In the year 1989 a new partnership program was started b/w the Diocese of Amristar and Diocese of Giessen Germany. Through this partnership , an exchange program was setup between Maple leaf hospital and Evangelisches Krankenhaus ,Giessen and the Diocese of Giessen, Germany. From the moment there have been exchange programs b/w the two hospitals , where medical students come and work in this hospital from time to time so as to gain experience in medical field. Lately through this partnership program a new laproscopic machine was donated by the Diocese of Giessen. The first laproscopic operation was started in the month of August 2002 and four patients were sucessfully operated. Many new operations have been kept for the coming months and as the no of patients increase the laproscopic unit will gain good ground . To facilitate the laproscopic machine , a new Anaesthesia machine was donated by our German friends. The machine was also put into the state of working when the laproscopic operation took place
At the moment a new project has been undertaken where the construction of new hospital building is taking place. A new surgery block is being created with the building of new operation theatre and new wards with good facilities.
A new xray machine has also been installed in the new block which has also been donated by our German friends. The new project of this hospital aims to provide quality service to the people of Kangra valley.
The hospital continues to expand its boundaries in all fields and providing help and service to the needy and the poor seeing their financial status and providing charity to the poor sections . The hospital bears a good reputed name till date throughout the kangra valley for the service it has provided to the people for more than 100 years of its establishment.
