Andhra Pradesh

Doctor with a `heart'

By T. Lalith Singh

C.H. Umeshchandra

HYDERABAD, APRIL 8. Six years ago, when people were busy with celebrations to usher in the new millennium, a senior cardiologist found himself a bit lost in the revelries.

"While every one was excited with the occasion, I suddenly remembered a section of society that could not even afford treatment for their ailments. Then, I decided to keep aside a part of my time to serve them," says C.H. Umeshchandra.

And that's how the idea of free camps for heart patients stuck roots and since then, Dr. Umeshchandra's small clinic at Boggulkunta had been extending super speciality care for thousands of poor patients who otherwise could not dream of it.

The camps are held every second Sunday and apart from free consultation, poor patients are given free ECG, free blood sugar estimation and also medicines.

"I spend about Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 at each camp on medicines given free to the needy," says the former Professor of Cardiology, Osmania Medical College. Since January 2000, he has held 63 camps and the 64th camp is to be inaugurated by the Chairman of Economic Advisory Council, C. Rangarajan, tomorrow.

As the number of patients lining up for the camp has risen steadily, Dr. Umeshchandra is forced to restrict the camps for 150 patients. Senior citizens too are taken care of and provided free consultation. "Members of the Government Pensioners' Family Welfare Association can flash their identity card and walk in for free consultation," he says. Impressed by the service, some pharmaceutical companies have evinced interest in providing medicines for his camps.

Letter from Kalam

Dr. Umeshchandra's best moment since he started the camps happens to be a letter sent by the President, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. "He sent a congratulatory note appreciating my camps and it is something that I will cherish for a long time to come. It has sort of reinforced my commitment to serve the poorer sections of society," he says.

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