Many often forget the roots that give them everything in a haste to succeed and move on to greater heights but not this Telangana Police Service officer. ACP N Uday Reddy built a charitable trust hospital in his village, as there were none in the mandal where he grew up.
A GIFT TO SOCIETY
Kothagudem, the officer’s hometown in Miryalguda Mandal of Nalgonda district, Telangana, had to rely largely on the private hospital situated in another mandal. Travelling far during emergency and check-ups led to precious time loss and medical delays that could lead to fatal outcomes.
The 32-year-old 2017 batch officer of the Telangana cadre hence decided to donate his land in the village for building the first hospital on it. Mr. Reddy contributed over Rs. 50 lakh for the hospital and got it constructed, along with his brother and father.
“I wished to give back to the place where I was born, the town where I learned to walk, and the village where greetings were shared. I thought what could be better than to set up a charitable trust hospital and serve my people,” Mr. Reddy shared in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
HOSPITAL FACILITIES
The Nekala Venkat Reddy Charity Hospital, named after the officer’s father, was inaugurated last week by Telangana Minister of Energy Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy Garu and has seen a surge in visitors since then.
This facility, which has four beds and advanced medical equipment, will give free medical services to the poor villagers. The hospital is equipped with a pharmacy, consultation rooms, diagnostic spaces, a vital parameter monitoring system, and oxygen cylinders.
Mr. Reddy has arranged for a retired senior MBBS doctor with over 42 years of medical experience, as well as other staff members such as nurses and ward boys, to be of service around the clock.
“The entire cost of all the amenities, including the pharmacy, came to Rs. 90 lahks. In addition, we have to pay 2.5 lahks per month for the salaries of the doctor, chemist, lab technician, and cleaner,” the officer shared.
The hospital provides medical care and diagnostics to 12 villages and a population of 15,000-20,000 people. The next hospital from Mr Reddy’s village is several km away.
AVOIDING QUACKS
The facility offers its patients free medical consultations and treatments. To reduce wastage, the medicines from the pharmacy are sold to the villagers at cost.
“We are doing this to eliminate RMP concerns since certain areas of the state are fully reliant on quacks who treat patients without any qualifications and receive 30-40% commissions from hospitals for simply referring them. They impose excessive fees that the villagers cannot afford,” Mr. Reddy told Indian Masterminds.
SUCCESSFUL APPROACH
Many people in the government fraternity who want to replicate the same model in their own villages applauded the officer’s initiative and contribution.
“My family is currently funding the 2.5 lakh/month, and we are hoping to bring in specialists such as cardiologists who could visit the hospital weekly or monthly and we could pay them per visit,” shared the officer.
To accomplish the same, the officer needs funding. If you would like to contribute to the cause and assist Mr. Reddy in extending the hospital’s medical facilities, please contact him at [email protected].
