about Us
Established in 1955 in Oddanchatram, Tamil Nadu, Christian Fellowship Hospital (CFH) began as a humble single-bed clinic. Over seven decades, it has evolved into a 299-bed secondary-level facility, now serving between 1200 and 1500 outpatients daily, across numerous specialty departments.
Despite our growth, our core mission remains unchanged. Run by the Christian Fellowship charitable society, CFH is defined by a commitment to dignity and compassionate care for all. We are driven by a shared conviction to serve the poor—prioritizing love and ministry over profit. At CFH, we are more than a hospital; we are a community dedicated to living out Christ’s love through simple living and selfless service.
The 70-year history of Christian Fellowship Hospital (CFH) is a testament to what is possible when lives are fully surrendered to God’s purpose.
Our journey began in 1948 at Miraj Medical College, Maharashtra. A group of students, including Dr. A.K. Tharien, met weekly for fellowship, wrestling with a difficult question: how could they best serve a young nation with desperate rural medical needs?
Compelled by Christian convictions and Gandhian ideals of simple living, Dr. Tharien turned his gaze toward Oddanchatram, Tamil Nadu—a drought-stricken village which had no medical facilities. In fact, at the time, no doctor was available within a 57-kilometer radius!
When Dr. Tharien arrived in Oddanchatram in 1955, he was joined by a small, dedicated medical team consisting of Dr. Jacob Cherian and Mrs. Mary Cherian, nurse Ms. P.I. Kunjamma, and Mr. Cherian, a pharmacy assistant.
The mission was also a deeply personal commitment, not only for Dr. Tharien, but for his family as well. His wife, Mariamma Tharien, soon followed with their two young children. Their third child was later born in Oddanchatram. Despite the absence of electricity, running water, or even a local high school, they chose to raise their family in this remote region, driven by a singular motive: to serve.
Faced with the immense challenges of establishing a medical practice from scratch, the founding team committed to a principle that remains our bedrock today: to depend solely on God and local resources. Starting from a loaned building with no inpatient wards or diagnostic tools, the hospital began to grow. As the years passed, God drew more doctors and staff who felt called to use their skills in service of the poor. What began as a primitive clinic has evolved into a comprehensive centre for healthcare and education.
Today, CFH remains a community where the focus is on people, not profit. Any surplus generated is directly reinvested into the hospital, ensuring that our mission to provide affordable, high-quality care continues to reach those who need it most.