Few doubt that music has a healing effect. But Jammu’s SMGS Hospital has taken this theory one step further.

In the first-ever live performance by a musician in any hospital in the state, and perhaps the country, eminent sitarist Raj Dogra on Tuesday held a concert in the gynaecology ward of SMGS Hospital in Jammu on Tuesday.

Apart from patients listening in from their beds, doctors and paramedical staff were a part of the audience.

The doctors contend that the one-hour performance left the women looking visibly relaxed, including some who are patients of hypertension.

“One of the patients had not slept for the last three days,” says SMGS Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Yash Pal Sharma.

Encouraged by its response, Sharma has requested Dogra to give them a CD of his compositions for playing in the gynae wards.

“Dogra approached me a fortnight ago and introduced himself as a professional musician who held concerts for pregnant women in London on a commercial basis. Informing him about his research on effect of music on patients, he said he wanted to do something for the people here during his stay. He offered to give live performance for patients free of cost,” says Sharma.

Since many of the patients could not be taken out due to the risks involved, it was decided that a makeshift dais would be built inside the ward and Dogra would perform there.