A doctor in east India has set up a clinic that charges only one rupee (less than a penny) for patients to receive treatment.

Doctor Shankar Ramchandani opened his clinic in Burla, a town in Sambalpur, Odisha A doctor of department of medicine of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR).

Ramchandani stated: "I had always wanted to provide free treatment to the poor and underprivileged beyond my duty hour. But earlier, I was a senior resident and senior residents are not allowed to do private practice.

"I was promoted as assistant professor recently and as an assistant professor, I am allowed to do private practice after my duty hours and hence, I have started the ‘One-Rupee’ clinic in a rented house now,

“I charge Rs 1 from the people because I don’t want them to feel that they are availing the service free of cost. They should also think that they have paid some money for their treatment,”

The clinic was inaugurated on February 12 and 33 patients came to the clinic on the first day.

The clinic, which has been set up at the Kachha Market area in Burla, will remain open from 7:00am to 8:00am in the morning and 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the evening.

Ramchandani’s wife, Sikha Ramchandani, who is a dental surgeon, is also helping him in the ‘One-Rupee’ clinic.

Ramchandani also added: "My late father, Brahmanand Ramchandani had told me to set up a nursing home. But a nursing home requires a huge investment and it is not possible to provide treatment to poor people at Rs 1 in a nursing home. Hence, I decided to open this ‘One-Rupee’ clinic,"

Sambalpur (Odisha) A doctor of department of medicine of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, Shankar Ramchandani has drawn the attention of all after he opened ‘One-Rupee’ clinic at Burla

Ramchandani said, I had always wanted to provide free treatment to the poor and underprivileged beyond my duty hour. But earlier, I was a senior resident and senior residents are not allowed to do private practice. I was promoted as assistant professor recently and as an assistant professor, I am allowed to do private practice after my duty hours and hence, I have started the ‘One-Rupee’ clinic in a rented house now, he said.

“I charge Rs 1 from the people because I don’t want them to feel that they are availing the service free of cost. They should also think that they have paid some money for their treatment,” said the assistant professor.

The clinic, which has been set up at the Kachha Market area in Burla, will remain open from 7 AM to 8 AM in the morning and 6 PM to 7 PM in the evening.

Ramchandani said, hundreds of people regularly come to the OPD of the hospital and wait for hours in long queues to consult the doctors. I have seen elderly people and people with disabilities waiting for hours for consultation with doctors in OPD. The sight of suffering by these people motivated me to open the clinic where they don’t have to wait for so long to consult the doctor, he added. Ramchandani’s wife, Sikha Ramchandani, who is a dental surgeon, is also helping him in the ‘One-Rupee’ clinic.

The clinic was inaugurated on 12th February and 33 patients came to the clinic on the first day.

Ramchandani said, my late father, Brahmanand Ramchandani had told me to set up a nursing home. But a nursing home requires a huge investment and it is not possible to provide treatment to poor people at Rs 1 in a nursing home. Hence, I decided to open this ‘One-Rupee’ clinic, he said.

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