The MCH Story

Moolai Co-operative Hospital (MCH), was founded by Dr K.Kanagarayar, who was born in 1889 in Moolai. He qualified from Calcutta (Kolkatta) University with MBBS degree (First Class) and worked in Singapore. Then he proceeded to settle down in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with his family. He returned after serving in Malaysia (then known as Malaya), and set up a family medicine centre in 1935 to provide much needed quality health care for the local community free of charge. It is located along the Jaffna-Karainagar road, about 9 miles (14 KM) from Jaffna town. It was the first Co-operative Model Hospital, started in 1935 and was a pioneering effort, as a first of its kind in South-east Asia. It is a non-profit organization, and provided the stimulus for similar institutions to be established in other parts of Sri Lanka and South-east Asia. It was registered as a charity in Sri Lanka in 1953.

MCH has always been administered by a committee of volunteer members since its inception in 1936, and was registered as a charity in 1953. Its current Chairman is Mr.M.Gnaneswaran, and has another 12 members including Dr.S.Surenthirakumaran, acting as Medical Superintendent. He is an academic attached to the Community Medicine department, Jaffna Medical School. The MCH Board is charged with day-to-day administration and finances. They are advised, accountable to, and independently audited by the Commissioner of Co-op Development.