Bhubaneswar: With a vision to provide quality healthcare to people residing in rural pockets, doctor Shankar Ramchandani established the One Rupee clinic in Sambalpur. With the clinic completing three years today, Ramchandani has started providing ECG and nebulization service to needy patients for Re 1.
A study reveals that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have now become the leading cause of mortality in India. Health experts are of the opinion that the majority of these deaths could have been prevented, if the victims were well aware about their heart health. And here comes the need for ECG (electrocardiogram) tests. ECG test is conducted to evaluate if your heart is healthy or has developed a problem. But this test is commonly done before a major surgery or if a heart problem is suspected. However, many countryside people don’t undergo ECG tests due to their lack of knowledge about the signs and symptoms of heart diseases.
Keeping this in mind, Sambalpur-based physicians has started providing ECG service especially for those belonging to poor financial backgrounds and living in rural areas. And people will not have to spend much for undergoing such tests. This service is available only at Re 1.
So far, Ramchandani has treated more than 50 thousand patients at his One Rupee Clinic. Apart from treating patients, the assistant professor (medicine) of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) also offers medicines to patients for Rs 1.
That’s not all. He also uses his car to transport the patients to hospital.
Ramchandani came up with the idea of setting up of One Rupee Clinic three years back to help people during Corona.
“There is no harm in selfless service. My new initiatives at the One Rupee Clinic will benefit the poor and heart patients. Normally, a patient spends Rs 500 to get ECG test done. I am providing the same service at Rs 1. Because I believe that service to mankind is service to God. I am not serving people to get accolades. But it gives me solace”, said Ramchandani.
