The Lady Willingdon Hospital , Manali is a secondary care charitable hospital catering to medical needs of the people of Kullu valley. The Hospital also acts as a referral centre for its three rural clinics, which are in other parts of Himachal. It is a resource centre for a number of medical students, community health students and volunteers coming from different parts of the country and abroad.

The hospital is owned by the church of North India , Amritsar diocese and managed through the Lady Willingdon Hospital and Day Star School Society. It is a member institution of the North West frontier Medical Board of Synodical Board of Health Services. It is registered under Registration of Society's Act of 1860 as a charitable society and functions under the Governing Board of the Society. This is also registered under Sec 10.23 C vi and vi(a) of Income Tax.

The Lady Willingdon Hospital Manali, was founded in 1935 by the Vicerene Lady Willingdon as a medical dispensary to provide health care to the people of Kullu Valley . It was handed over to the Kangara Mission of the Canadian Anglican Church, until 1962 to run as a medical clinic. The property is registered under ADTA (Amritsar Diocese Trust Association).

Many missionaries have worked here providing basic medical care including emergency surgeries. In 1961, after a visit, Prime Minister Pandit Nehru told the Bishop that if the hospital could not be run properly, then he would take it over and run it as a government hospital. As a result, Christian Medical College Ludhiana sent a doctor to work here, and thus the hospital remained with the church. In 1960-1961, Central Asia Mission sent a doctor and two nurses who continued their services till the 1970's.

By the mid seventies, the patient load had risen to 17,000 outpatients with 150 inpatients. Emergency surgery was also being carried out mainly Caesarean sections and suturing of wounds. This was the period in which village health work was established in remote areas. At this time the Hospital became part of the Church of North India under the Diocese of Amritsar. In 1970-1971, the Hospital with all its assets were transferred to C.N.I, Amritsar diocese (now ADTA) from the Kangra Mission.

Dr. George and Dr. Sheila Verghese, graduates from CMC Ludhiana, gradually built up the surgical and maternity services in the hospital. And the hospital slowly expanded in infrastructure, people and procedures and systems and gave the foundation to the present Lady Willingdon Hospital . The present hospital is the fruit of diligence, dedication and foresight of many.

Today the hospital treats over 35000 outpatients, admits over 1700 inpatients, and conducts over 550 major surgeries annually. In addition, hundreds of minor procedures and closed orthopedic manouvres are done each year. Outreach trips are made each month to the peripheral centre, and at the hospital, regular Antenatal, Tuberculosis, Well Baby and Immunisation clinics are conducted each week.

We have three peripheral clinics, Madgaon, Jibhi and Spiti which are strategically located in the remote areas.

At Madgoan, the work has picked up quite steadily and patients know about the services available there.

Jibhi clinic is also expanding in infrastructure. We now have the facility for an operation theatre, and hope to have a permanent doctor there. We are hoping to provide more staff accommodation there. We have been conducting surgical camps here.

This year Spiti had fewer patients and we have the opportunity to rethink our strategy there. We have been challenged about the importance of Primary health Care and its impact on the general population in contrast to the curative work, which is available to only those who can afford it.

Lady Willingdon, the then Vicereine, first visited Manali in 1934. Finding no medical services here, she persuaded some local people to start a subscription for a hospital to which she contributed a large sum of money. She left instructions to have it built in time for her return visit the following year. The first building was completed and opened by her on November 20th 1935 (this is the building seen to the right of the courtyard as you enter through the main gate).

• Outpatient department

Dr. Laji (George Varghese), and his wife, Dr. Sheila have brought this hospital up to its present state in the past 25 years. He performs general, orthopedic and plastic surgery. He is the director of the institute.

This hospital provides care in the Spirit of Christ to the local people at a price that is affordable to them. It offers both basic and specialty services. It is the only viable specialized centre in the region. We seek to become a contact point to transmit the love of Jesus and in this effort, be vehicles of transformation.