Meet Dr B Ramana Rao - The Man Who Offers Free Healthcare To Over 2 Million People In Rural India
Meet a man who is a cardiologist by profession, with a golden heart himself. His professional degree of MBBS, FAGE, MD, FICA, FAIID, has helped him serve patients free-of-cost.
Meet the man who is a cardiologist by profession, with a golden heart himself. His professional degrees of MBBS, FAGE, MD, FICA, FAIID, have helped him serve patients free-of-cost. Since 15th August 1973, Dr Rao has been involved in a noble initiative, by treating patients on every Sunday at his village clinic in T Begur village in Nelamangala taluk, Bengaluru Rural district - a location at a distance of 35 km from Bengaluru-Pune Highway.
Dr B Ramana Rao
This personal-professional affair has been going on uninterrupted since the time it all began. His ROI is the given blessings of over two million patients he has served till date.
About the rural MBBS
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Dr. B Ramana Rao has an experience of 40 years in medical practice, with a specialisation in cardiology. A man of repute, Dr Rao has earned recognition for his contribution in the healthcare services field. Among his many accolades, he has been honored the Padmashree award for medicine, by the President of India. He was also conferred with the Dr. Abdul Kalam National Award, for rural medical service in 2008.
However, it is not the mere fact of obtaining a degree in medicine that highlights these achievements. He may have a reputed patient list, having treated famous personalities like Amitabh Bachchan and late Kannada acting legend Dr Rajkumar. But on Sundays, Dr Rao is a man with a different mission. He has been spending his day in a village clinic, doing community service since the 70¡¯s. His parents have been instrumental in introducing Dr Rao to community service, right after he completed his MBBS degree from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal.
His rural initiative
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The cardiologist cum physician is on a social mission, every Sunday. He and his team have delivered with a natural flair for rural welfare. They treat patients at their village clinic set up in T Begur village - free of cost. Yet when we dig a little deeper, we understand the fact that it is also about the ¡®Right to live with dignity¡¯.
This on-ground level initiative (of successfully running a village clinic) practically means attending to patients, giving medicines and injections, while completely diagnosing the patients; so that they can be referred further for complete treatment (to hospitals). The clinic is now in its 44th year of operation, with over two million patients attended to by Dr Rao¡¯s social brigade. They also serve food, as and when the need arises, and even give nutrition advice.
Needless to say, the good word of mouth spreads fast, and today there are patients visiting the clinic from far away corners too. These people visit the clinic from a distance of over even 100 km, and then, wait patiently in the queue (at times for more than 12 hours in a day).
The evolution
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As quoted by Newindianexpress, the award-winning doctor says, ¡°The demand for free medical services has doubled in recent times with the cost of medicines escalating.¡±
He adds, ¡°To run this clinic for one day, we need at least 1 lakh. The Himalaya Company, Surana and Microlabs help in procuring medicines. We need more people to donate funds for this cause.¡±
As it is understood by most of us, the cost of medical services has escalated - primarily the cost of medicines. However, this has not been a deterrent for Dr Rao and his team. In fact, the team has only added to their bouquet of healthcare services, by attending to patients for oral health, skin and eye care. Already, medicines, injections and nebulisation were given free of cost to patients. Besides, free cataract surgery is also done at the clinic. The free clinic has been serving people by organising eye and diabetes camps in the past one decade.
But that still doesn¡¯t limit the social streak of Dr. Rao. The team also donates (in kind), to help out school children in the region. The list may include books, school uniforms, or any other material required by school-going students. Hygiene is another social motive of Dr Rao and his team. He has contributed in construction of more than 700 free public toilets around the village. The team has also made arrangement for clean drinking water in surrounding villages. As we say, health and hygiene are all part of the same eco-system; and it is well delivered here.
The clinical apparatus
The village clinic in T.Begur is spread over a 10-acre farm. Dr. Rao¡¯s wife and his two sons (who are also doctors) have joined him in this noble endeavour. His son Dr Charit Bhograj is an interventional cardiologist, and Dr Abhijit Bhograj is an endocrinologist.
