Hyderabad: At a time when people are struggling to pay exorbitant hospital bills and even get access to medical aid, here is a Hyderabad-based doctor who is treating Covid patients at his clinic for just Rs 10. Yes, you read it right. Just Rs 10!
Dr Victor Emmanuel, who runs Prajwala Clinics at Boduppal, has been treating the poor with Rs 10 as a consultation fee for the last two years now. During the first wave of the pandemic, he decided to treat Covid patients too with the same fee.
This doctor of masses, as he describes himself, has become quite well-known in a city where the consultation fee charged by private doctors begins at Rs 200 and keeps going higher for each visit. While white ration cardholders are charged Rs 10 here, soldiers, farmers, orphans and the differently-abled are treated for free.
“Over 150 people, including Covid patients, visit the clinic every day. More than 25,500 Covid patients who were in home isolation and isolation centres have been attended by me so far. At times, the hospital remains open till midnight attending to patients,” says Dr Emmanuel, adding that he charges Rs 10 so that people don’t feel they’re availing free service.
An effort is being made to cut down the cost of various lab tests and medicines for patients at the clinic.
Talking about what made him treat people with a nominal fee, he says: “I once came across a woman begging in front of a hospital to buy medicines for her husband who was in the hospital’s ICU. At that point, I made up my mind to serve the needy and the poor. I started this clinic for people who cannot afford expensive treatment.”
The consultation timing is from 7.30 am to 9 pm.
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