Dr Swaminathan C, who was born and brought up in Canada , returned to India after spending years there. But it wasn’t until he was working at a private medical college in Tamil Nadu that he realised what he was doing.
“At the hospital, I would meet a lot of senior citizens.They’d frequently describe the practical challenges they confront when transferring from their houses to a hospital bed, especially if they live on the second or third levels. Many of them are also left alone when their children are away.”
“So, you have two elderly parents at home, and if one of them becomes ill, how will the other get them to the hospital? Even if they come once or twice, it is tough for them to return to hospitals for frequent check-ups,” the 33-year-old says.
According to Dr. Swaminathan, doctors visit senior folks in their homes in European and North American cultures. “If food can be delivered to your door, why can’t quality healthcare be delivered to your door?”
As a result, in September 2019, the Madurai resident launched the ‘Doctor on Wheels’ initiative, which aims to bring medical care to different groups, particularly the elderly, at their doorsteps.
“Aside from the elderly, we also provide healthcare to those who cannot be physically moved to a hospital, such as disabled children. We also help them save money on hospital bills,” he explains.
Dr. Swaminathan was born in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, and was raised by his mother in Canada when his parents split when he was quite young. He returned to India in 2006 to seek higher studies in medicine after finishing his schooling.
After finishing his MBBS and post-graduation in emergency medicine in 2015, he worked as a junior consultant in the intensive care unit at a private medical institution for five years. “However, I felt that a corporate job was not for me.I wanted to give people something better,” he says.
Dr Swaminathan abandoned his employment a year after founding ‘Doctor on Wheels’ to devote his full attention to this project.
He converted a Maruti Eeco ambulance and installed ICU-style equipment such as infusion pumps, syringe drivers, defibrillators, and oxygen cylinders.
“We come across patients with all kinds of illnesses, from the common cough and cold to cancer. Basic consultations, palliative care, peritoneal dialysis, and post-hospitalization care are also available. We not only transport medications to them, but we also collect blood samples for testing and provide services such as portable X-rays, ECGs, and ultrasounds, anything can reach to their doorsteps.”
Dr. Swaminathan leads an eight-person team that includes physiotherapists, a physician assistant, a radiologist, nurses, and a driver. According to him, the team visits patients for regular follow-ups on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis, depending on their health.
“If the patient requires hospitalisation, we assist them in being admitted to the hospital of their choice at no cost,” he says.
The squad travels roughly 60 kilometres per day and responds to at least 25 calls. He charges between Rs 300 and Rs 800 for this, depending on the distance the squad must travel.
“We charge a nominal fee to cover transport expenses. We’ve treated patients from wealthy families as well as in a hut where I don’t have a chair and have to sit on the ground. We do not collect any fees when we believe the family are needy.’ Says the doctor with empathy in his tone
So far Dr. Swaminathan has treated over 25,000 patients in and around Madurai.
Twenty three-year-old Manubharati emphasises how much easier this endeavour has turned out for his grandparents who are both in their 70s and frequently fall sick due to high blood pressure and urinary infections. This mobile clinic is a boon for them as they no longer have to wait in huge lines at the hospital.
“My mother would usually accompany them to the hospital for treatment. She is also 47- years-old, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for her to transport them to the hospital on her own. So we dialled Dr Swaminathan’s number instead. He is very patient and pays close attention to my grandparents. It is more convenient for us to receive healthcare services at home,” he says.
“Aside from the long hours, the commute and long working hours are the most difficult aspects of this job. It is quite tough to commute through Madurai at rush hour. It is also one of the reasons we begin so early. Even if I am an hour late, my entire schedule for the day is disrupted. I sometimes have to skip OPD as well,” he admits.
“It is not just about me; it is a collaborative effort between me and my team. We labour approximately 14 hours per day. Because I do it because I love it, you will not find me fidgety or stressed out. It truly fills my heart, and I believe I can make a difference.” says the kind-hearted doctor.
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