Dr. Banoo Jehangir Coyaji

The late Dr. Banoo Coyaji is synonymous with social service, family planning, and population control. She joined KEM Hospital in 1944 as the Chief Medical Officer, and her dedication and efforts turned the small 40-bed nursing home into what is today a 550-bed super speciality, tertiary level teaching hospital with a well-established Research Centre. In 1958 she founded the Paediatrics Department, and by 1967, the 200-bedded general hospital also had full-fledged Medical and Surgical departments.

Dr. Banoo Coyaji served on several national and international bodies. She was a member of the Scientific and Technical Group on Human Reproduction, as well as the Women’s Health and Development, and Health Manpower Development programmes at the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Coyaji also served as a consultant to the Governments of Maharashtra and India, the World Bank, the Ford Foundation, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other agencies. She was also Professor Emeritus and a member of the Management Council of Pune University.

Her pioneering work in the field of Family Planning (FP) services earned Dr. Coyaji worldwide recognition and innumerable awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 1989, and the Magsaysay Award for Public service in 1993.