Doctor providing quality healthcare to the poor

BANGALORE: Begur, a village just anhour''s drive from Bangalore, has become a healthcare centre for many thanks toDr Ramana Rao, the well-known city physician and cardiologist who has beenconducting a charitable Sunday medical camp there for 28 years now.To alarge number of the poor people in villages, quality healthcare and thetreatment from eminent doctors is a distant dream. The cost of reaching cityhospitals for treatment is beyond their meagre income.Dr Ramana Rao''sSunday clinics draw as many as 1,000 patients. They queue up from as early as 4a.m. and some come from villages over 60 km away for free treatment andmedicines from him.``There is a dearth of good healthcare delivery inrural areas today,'''' says Dr Ramana Rao. ``Most of the cases I treat here areasthmatics. Viral infections and skin diseases too are common, apart fromarthritis and rheumatic pains.''''Primary care, he says, is a vitalfoundation that has to be built if healthcare has to reach the weaker economicsections in the villages. ``Doctors need to go out into villages and treatpeople free. The experience will also help them become better doctors,'''' hesays.Dr Ramana Rao spends Rs 15,000 a week on medicines. Around 600injections are given apart from nebulisations. ``You don''t have to give up yourpractice to do this. One day a week is enough,'''' he says.Healthcaredelivery to this cross-section is all about making it accessible and free.In this day and age when efficient drugs are available in the market, itis only golden-hearted doctors such as Rao who can take this to the poorest ofthe poor. ``Doctors have the power to heal and they should use this to serve theneedy,'''' says Dr Ramana Rao. ``It is very satisfying.''''All it takes issome basic medicines such as pain killers, antibiotics, bronco dilaters andvitamins. ``These medicines coupled with the right attitude can do wonders forthe patients,'''' he says.``The incidence of hypertension, heart disease anddiabetes in villages is extremely low and with just minimum medication a largenumber of people can be helped.''''