Sambalpur: On successful completion of one year of his unique ‘One Rupee’ clinic in Burla, Dr Shankar Ramchandani an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) today launched ‘Medicine at One Rupee’ service for poor and needy patients.
Poor patients who cannot afford to buy costly medicines for their treatment can now get the same by just spending one rupee. On realizing that often poor and needy patients face difficulty in buying costly medicine, Dr Ramchandani came up with the idea of ‘Medicine at One Rupee’ service.
“I come from a middle-class family. My father had a desire that I provide treatment to the poor and underprivileged. Last year on this day I had started the ‘One Rupee’ clinic and it has been successful, so I decided to provide medicine for one rupee to only poor patients, divyangs, old and destitute who don’t have money,” said Dr Ramchandani.
On being asked how he would provide medicine for one Rupee, the VIMSAR Assistant Professor said that he would buy medicines from the Jan Aushadhi Kendra by spending money from his own pocket and donations from generous persons.
Asked why he charges one Rupee, Dr Ramchandani said “I charge one Rupee from the poor and underprivileged people as I don’t want them to feel that they are availing the service free of cost. They should also think that they have paid some money towards fees to the doctor for their treatment and one Rupee for their medicine.”
Dr Ramchandani said that his wife and mother help him in his service to the poor.
“I am very happy that my PG students and house surgeons have joined me in delivering this service to the poor and underprivileged. This is a milestone for me. I am hopeful that these students of mine will be serving the poor,” the VIMSAR Assistant Professor stated.
