Chennai Medical College Hospital & Research Centre

Out here in Irungalur, things are a bit different than the city hospitals. The campus is quite large, and there is a lot of open space around the buildings. It’s a long walk from one end to the other, so you see students and staff rushing back and forth all day. Being a medical college as well as a hospital means there are always young people in white coats carrying books and talking about their classes. The atmosphere is a mix of a school and a busy medical center. In the mornings, the buses arrive with students and workers, and the place really wakes up. The Research Centre part of the building is usually quieter, with people focused on their work behind closed doors. Irungalur is a bit removed from the main urban noise, but the hospital itself creates its own kind of bustle. We have large wards with many beds, and it can get quite loud when visitors are around. The canteen is a popular spot for everyone to grab a bite and take a break from the long shifts. We deal with a lot of people coming in from the surrounding villages. The facilities are basic but they work for the volume of people we see. Maintaining such a large place is a constant struggle with the dust and the heat. We just keep at it, day after day, making sure the gates stay open.