Bengaluru hospital's 'musical night' draws online backlash, CEO says ‘Patients don’t want to live in morose…'

Superhealth founder and CEO Varun Dubey has defended a 'music night' held at the hospital in Bengaluru after videos of the event circulated online and triggered flak over the idea of hosting a musical gathering inside a healthcare facility.

Responding to the backlash in a post on X, Dubey said Superhealth was founded with the aim of building "hospitals that don't scare people". He admitted that organising a music event at a hospital might appear unusual but said there was a reason behind the decision.

"This Saturday night, we tried something unusual: we hosted a musical event at the hospital. I know how that sounds a little WTF. And plenty of people have been outraged by it. But hear me out," he wrote.

Patients, attendants also invited

Dubey said the guest list had been carefully curated, while patients and their attendants were also welcome to attend. According to him, some patients and attendants joined the event simply to escape boredom, seek a distraction or spend time in an environment that felt less lonely.

He said the hospital's OPDs had shut by 8 pm, with the event starting at 10 pm. Registration was carried out in the OPD lobby, while the main event was held in the basement, mezzanine and fourth floor, which houses the hospital's office.

"Everything else took place in the basement, mezzanine and fourth-floor (our office)," he wrote.

'Zero' sound reached patients, CEO says

Dubey maintained that areas occupied by inpatients were completely isolated from the event. He said multiple floors and extensive sound insulation separated the event venues from active inpatient areas.

"To be absolutely clear: no music or event related sound reached the patients. Not 'almost zero.' Zero," Dubey said.

'Hospitals' need not be cold, frightening'

Addressing the criticism, Dubey said the reaction to the event reflected the way hospitals are generally perceived as places associated with fear, sadness and discomfort.

"It reveals how deeply we have accepted hospitals as places that must feel cold, frightening and morose. The mere suggestion that a hospital could also be warm, hopeful-perhaps even joyful-feels wrong to us," he wrote.

He argued that the environment in which healthcare is delivered can shape people's attitudes towards seeking medical help. Dubey questioned why some people avoid hospitals, postpone medical tests or ignore symptoms until their conditions become more serious.

"Patients do not want to live in a morose environment. Their attendants do not either," he said.

'Hospitals do not need to be scary places'

Dubey said providing patients and attendants with opportunities for "a few hours of distraction, warmth or joy" should not be viewed negatively as long as their treatment and rest were not affected.

"If we can offer people a few hours of distraction, warmth or joy without compromising their care or rest, we believe that effort is worth making. Hospitals do not need to be scary places. We are going to keep pushing that belief," he added.

He also invited those who objected to the event to attend the next edition and see how it was organised.

"As I always say, I hope you never need a hospital. But if you do, I hope you find one that is warm, inviting and kind not one that is lonely, morose and scary," he concluded.