A kind-hearted doctor in south India has taken to treating people in rural communities for less than a penny a patient.

Dr. S.C. Shankare Gowda, a physician from Karnataka seen here treating villagers in Shivalli near Mandya, is known as the '5 Rupee doctor' for his cheap but effective treatments.

Dr. Gowda is a skin specialist and treats all types of skin diseases with an almost total success rate.

Hailing from Shivanahalli Taluk, a village in the South Indian state of Karnataka, Dr. Gowda used to practice in Mandya, which is some 12 kilometres away from his village.

When he noticed that a large number of patients from his native area came there to consult with him, Dr. Gowda decided to return to the area and start practising there, and charging only 5 rupees (around £0.05).

Despite becoming a famous physician, Gowda doesn’t own a mobile phone, nor does he have a computer nor access to Internet, the doctor managing everything by himself.

One cannot book advance appointments at his clinic but rather people arrive and queue up to receive treatment.

Dr. Gowda is also an agriculturist and has keen insights into the lives of the poor labourers who live in the region.

So apart from treating many of them without the already reduced fee, Gowda prescribes them affordable medicines.

One of the patients who had come to visit the doctor said, "The doctor is very humble and doesn't do anything for publicity. He has not given an interview in the media till date because he doesn't want people to feel that he is doing this for his publicity."

Another patient added, "There are so many poor people, the doctor is a boon for us as people these days have money for food but not enough for treatment, here people may not have money for food but can afford to be treated."

Shankare Gowda The Doctor Who Treats Village People for 5 Rupees Only.

Many professions in the world are held in high. But some of them are of the highest esteem. The profession of medical is one of them. A doctor is deemed to be the next to God on the earth. Many doctors charge hefty fees. Also, many are said to be in complicity with medicine companies.

However, there are still people who have maintained the principles of the profession. Many do not even charge for the treatment itself. Here is one such man  Dr. S. C. Shankare Gowda. Dr. Shankare is very popular around Mandya of Karnataka as ‘Rs 5 doctor’ for he treats only for Five Rupees. Dr. Gowda is a skin specialist and treats all types of skin diseases with an almost full success rate.
Hailing from Shivanahalli Taluk, a village in the South Indian state of Karnataka, Dr. Gowda used to practice in Mandya, which is some 12 kilometers away from his village. When he noticed that a large number of patients from his native area came there to consult with him, Dr. Gowda decided to return to the parish and start practicing there.

Dr. Gowda does not only charge few rupees for the treatment but also treat with much delicacy and expertise. His magical hands have cured many people who couldn’t get cured at big hospitals. Still, after being much a famous physician, Dr. Gowda doesn’t own a mobile phone. Neither he has a computer nor access to Internet, yet Dr. Gowda has the advanced knowledge of the diseases. His clinic doesn’t have a landline phone, assistants nor a compounder. The modest doctor manages everything by himself.
Dr. Gowda does not offer private appointments. If people want to see him, they need to come to Mandya and stand in the queue to get his treatment. He doesn’t show favoritism. Be a VVIP or a common man, every person has to stand in line. However, there is a separate queue for ladies and kids.

A humble man from the very outset, Dr. Gowda is least bothered about his clinic aesthetics or his appearance and looks. While in his village, he sees patients on the side of a bakery or by the road or in his farming field. Not only the local folks but many patients from different places come to his village for treatment.

Dr. Shankare Gowda is also an agriculturist and has keen insights into the lives of the poor laborers who live in the region. He is well acquainted with the fact that the rustics need affordable healthcare. So, apart from treating many of them without the already reduced fee, Dr. Gowda prescribes them affordable medicines.

One of the patients who had come to visit the doctor said, "The doctor is very humble and doesn't do anything for publicity. He has not given an interview in the media till date because he doesn't want people to feel that he is doing this for his publicity."
Another patient added, "There are so many poor's, the doctor is a boon for us as people these days have money for food but not enough for treatment, here people may not have money for food but can afford to be treated."

Although the humble doctor has not appeared in any of the national or international media, but he was humble enough to give us a short bite.

Filmed & DOP BY : Durgesh Kumar Yellappa
Megha India Photo Agency (Mipanews.com)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India