Now Reading: 27 Delhi doctors pledge weekly free consultations for poor
-
01
27 Delhi doctors pledge weekly free consultations for poor
Twenty-seven doctors in Delhi have pledged two hours of free consultations each week for poor and underprivileged patients under the volunteer initiative 2 Ghante Desh Ke Naam. Specialists in ophthalmology, oncology, orthopaedics,…
The Story in Brief
Twenty-seven doctors in Delhi have pledged two hours of free consultations each week for poor and underprivileged patients under the volunteer initiative 2 Ghante Desh Ke Naam. Specialists in ophthalmology, oncology, orthopaedics, psychiatry, paediatrics, cardiology, gynaecology and general medicine will offer care through two hospitals, two clinics and telemedicine.
The programme is being run by participating hospitals and clinics, which will contribute doctors’ time and infrastructure without a central funding agency. Patients can register through speciality-wise contact numbers before screening and scheduling. Organisers aim to reach low-income families, rural communities and urban slum residents, and are seeking support from medical associations to expand the effort beyond Delhi.
The Indian Opinion
The easy narrative is that a few volunteer hours can fix India’s specialist-care gap. They cannot, but dismissing the initiative as publicity would be equally lazy. Free consultations may help patients who delay advice because of cost, especially through telemedicine. Its value will depend on access, follow-up and referrals, not launch-day promises. How many patients will complete treatment after the first consultation? That number should decide whether the model deserves expansion.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
