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Padma Shri Dr Ramana Rao's Free Sunday Clinic Touches 2.5 Million Lives in 53 Years
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News18•07-10-2026, 23:47
Padma Shri Dr Ramana Rao's Free Sunday Clinic Touches 2.5 Million Lives in 53 Years
- •Dr Ramana Rao has been running a free Sunday village clinic in Begur near Bengaluru for 53 years, treating an estimated 2.5 million patients without charging for consultations, tests, or medicines.
- •Inspired by his childhood memories of rural healthcare struggles near the Tungabhadra Dam, Dr Rao is joined every week by around 35 specialist doctors across various medical fields.
- •Patients travel from hundreds of kilometres away, with some arriving the night before, placing immense trust in the dedicated medical care provided by Dr Rao.
- •Beyond healthcare, the initiative has expanded to community development by building 700 toilets, supporting 50 schools, planting 35,000 trees, and tackling malnutrition.
- •The clinic survives through the financial support of friends, family, and well-wishers, while iconic Kannada actor Dr Rajkumar's songs play in the background as a signature rhythm of the clinic.
Key Questions Answered
Dr Ramana Rao's Free Village Clinic started its Sunday ritual on August 15, 1973, and has been running for 53 years.
Patients at the clinic receive completely free consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, and medical devices all under one roof.
Over the course of 53 years, Dr Rao's clinic has treated an estimated 2.5 million patients entirely free of cost.
