Chennai's 'Kalam doctor' who was godsend to poor dies

Chennai: The 'five rupees doctor,' who offered solace to lakhs of patients over decades, has left the scene. Dr Jayachandran (71), who treated poor patients at his clinic at Vannarpet for the last 40 years, has passed away. Thousands reached the doctor's house and offered condolences. The last rites were held at Kasimedu cemetery on Thursday evening.

The doctor charged a mere Rs 5 as his consultation fee and gave medicines free of cost to the needy. Some patients who had no money to pay for the transportation to return home were also helped by the doctor.

Dr Jayachandran was born in an ordinary family at Kodaipattanam village in Kanchipuram. The village that had no hospitals or doctors. As a boy, he saw the suffering of the people having little access to healthcare and decided to become a doctor. His dream was a village where everyone could benefit from free healthcare.

Jayachandran studied hard and secured admission at the Chennai Medical College. After passing out, he opened a clinic at Vannarpet in North Chennai. He has virtually been a god for the poor patients at Vannarpet and nearby areas ever since. His fee, till recently, was Rs 2. The doctor never took the fee directly, but kept a box on his examination table where patients could deposit the money. He took no fee from poor patients.

Sporting a hairstyle similar to former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Dr Jayachandran was also called ‘Kalam doctor’ by his admirers.

Apart from treating patients at the clinic, Dr Jayachandran conducted over 2,000 medical camps for patients who could not even reach the clinic. He also met the educational expenses of many poor students.

At the clinic, it was the doctor himself who gave injections and handed over the medicines to the patients, in addition to examining them. Inspired by Dr Jayachandran, several leading specialist doctors visited the clinic and treated patients without charging any fee.

Dr Jayachandran's his wife Dr Veni and children Dr Saranya, Dr Sarat and Dr Saravana also are part of the medical mission. All of them would be present at the medical camps for the needy.

According to his friends, it Dr Jayachandran's last wish to die when examining patients.

Read more India News