Helping Hands
The Duncan Hospital Charitable Trust was set up to help fund staff and patients at The Duncan Hospital in Bihar, India. Click below to donate today
Supporting Healthcare and Education at
The Duncan Hospital in Bihar, India.
The Duncan Hospital Charitable Trust supports The Duncan Hospital in Bihar, India - providing healthcare and education for millions across India and Nepal
Who are we
Based in Bihar, India, near the border with Nepal, The Duncan Hospital is the only medical facility serving this vast and underserved region. Every year, it provides essential healthcare to more than eleven million people - around five million Nepalese and six million Indians - yet receives no central government funding.
Founded in 1930 by Dr Cecil Duncan, an Edinburgh GP, the hospital’s legacy of compassion and service has continued for nearly a century. Decades later, its story reached Professor Mackay through Drs. Matt and Joanna Peacock, long-time friends of his family, who had spent ten years working at the hospital. As they shared stories of dedication amid crumbling facilities, the Mackays were moved to help.
Determined to make a lasting difference, Professor Mackay and his wife Jackie began by completing the unfinished Mother and Child Block - a crucial project for local maternity care. After visiting for the building’s opening, they partnered with Dr. Graham and Karen Watson to establish The Duncan Hospital Charitable Trust (DHCT).
Since 2010, the Mackay and Watson families have visited regularly, building strong friendships with the dedicated and inspiring staff who continue to transform lives at The Duncan Hospital.
Welcome to The Duncan Hospital Charitable Trust
Who are we and what do we do?
Help Us Bring Hope: Support the ASHA Street Kids School at Duncan Hospital
Every child deserves a chance - a chance to learn, to grow, and to dream. The ASHA Project at The Duncan Hospital is giving street children who live in poverty, and often come from very challenging backgrounds, the opportunity for a better future. Just £9000 will allow us to enrol 50 vulnerable children annually, aged 6–14, in a school that offers not only basic education but also daily hot meals, teaching staff, and essential learning materials.
These children have no access to formal schooling - your donation can be the difference that helps them break the cycle of poverty.
Together we can open the door to hope, dignity, and opportunity for these young lives.
See more of our work
To see more of our work at The Duncan, meet the staff and patients you can subscribe to our Youtube channel where we post our video updates.
Old versus the new - a huge step forwards
We and all the staff, are very excited about the new Nursing School Project. It has been a huge undertaking, we joined forces with EMMS to help fund this new building.
The old Nursing School was in a damp, cramped old building that flooded for much of the year and was really unsuitable. The fantastic new building is a much-anticipated addition to the hospital's infrastructure. We look forward to seeing generations of nurses train here.
Use our image slider below to see the difference the new building is going to make to the nurses of The Duncan.
100%
of funds go to The Duncan
125,000+
Outpatients treated per annum
8
new buildings funded
LIGHTING UP TO SAVE YOUNG LIVES!
Phototherapy units are vitally important when it comes to saving the lives of babies at The Duncan. India has the highest rate of pre-term baby deaths in the world but most of these can be prevented. Life saving baby equipment such as phototherapy machines, infant warmers and o2 machines can help. If you would like to help us in our fundraising efforts to provide more of this equipment then all donations are welcome.
Meet some of the staff at The Duncan
Blessy is in charge of paediatric patients at The Duncan including in the new Mother and Baby unit
Dr Blessy Sucharita, Senior Paediatrician
Prahbu is an orthopaedic surgeon, specialising in spinal surgery. He is also the Medical Director of the hospital.