Voices from the Communion: Dr Santosh Kumar Nag, Superintendent of the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church Christian hospital
(LWI) - For 71 years of service, the Christian Hospital Nabarangpur (CHN) has been a healing ministry of the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church for the people of the Odisha State region. For 39 of those 71 years, Dr Santosh Kumar Nag has served CHN and looks forward to the future of redeveloping the current facilities and offering more advanced healthcare services.
Dr Nag, Medical Superintendent of the 100-bed Christian Hospital Nabarangpur, shares how he and his medical team maintain a financially self-sustaining healthcare ministry while caring for “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
What was your religious upbringing as a child?
My religious upbringing was full of love and nurturing. I am a fourth-generation Lutheran, baptized and confirmed in the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church.
What inspired you to become a doctor and a hospital administrator?
I never planned to be what I am today. I studied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as my main subjects during school with Biology as an optional subject. Initially, I wanted to become an engineer. I never wanted to study medicine because I was afraid of dead bodies. During that time, natural disasters made communication difficult and my application to engineering school was delayed, making the study of medicine my only option and I applied with reluctance. Coming from a lower-middle class, rural family who could not afford to send me to an expensive private institution, I applied for a government college, and by God’s grace was granted entrance on my first request.
Once I studied medicine, I then knew I wanted to serve in CHN because the health care needs of my people were great.
As a child I had seen the dedicated service of German missionary doctors and doctors from other parts of India who influenced me. Dr. P.K John, my predecessor at CHN, was one of those influential doctors.
What is the mission of the Christian Hospital?
Our mission at the Christian Hospital Nabarangpur is to provide holistic healthcare at affordable prices, and we do this as an expression of the love of God as shown in Jesus Christ. We are also committed to training those called to be healthcare workers.