Dr. T. Rama Prasad's Scribblings...: 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' Clinic

This is not an ad,  it’s about an odd service.

FESTIVE  GREETINGS  from
‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic
( Everyday is a festival day for one who is happy and helpful.)

“Thena thyakthena bhoojithaha”– Ishopanishad
   **( Translated by  Prof. B.M. Hegde as: “Rejoice in giving.”)

  True to this quote, I have been rejoicing at what little I could give. Defying stereotypes, this clinic has been in existence for a very long time, sans glitz, blitz, ads, microphones, speeches and noise. As a matter of my policy, publicity is shunned. The reason is simple. Good work needs no noise and nonsense.  My ‘SCRIBBLINGS’ on related topics may be accessed at:  http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com  or  www.rama-scribbles.in

My consultation fee is not decided by me. It is the patient’s pleasure. The patient may pay whatever he can and what he wishes.  If one is short of money, one need not pay anything. And the money thus received is used for charity to help the needy, the poor and the less fortunate, informally.  If interested to know more about this facility, go to:  http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com/2017/06/pay-what-you-can-clinic.html . And, if you wish, you may also 'contribute what you can' (Dr. RAMA PRASAD T, A/C No. SB 451075868, INDIAN BANK, IFS CODE IDIB000P155, PERUNDURAI, Erode District, Tamil Nadu - 638052 ).

          "*We need not run after money. If we are meritorious and compassionate, money would run after us, and it eludes us if we run after it.”***      -- T. Rama Prasad

            “Richness is not having lots of money.  It is the feeling that one has enough of it.   Contentment sans comparison is what makes one really rich.”    -- T. Rama Prasad
Dr. T. Rama Prasad, ‘PAY  WHAT  YOU  CAN’  Clinic,
PERUNDURAI,   Erode Dt., TN, India.    Former Medical Superintendent (Special),  RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre,  Perundurai, Website: www.rama-scribbles.in , Blog: https://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com, Email:drtramaprasad@gmail.com, Facebook: T Rama Prasad, Twitter: @DrRamaprasadt, WhatsApp: +91 98427 20393
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The above few lines give some idea about this clinic. If you wish to know more about it, please go through the following:

Dr. T. Rama Prasad www.rama-scribbles.in

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An anecdote

During my childhood, one of my schoolmates had huge nails. Her name was Gowri. We nicknamed her as ‘Goru’ (meaning nail of a finger or toe in Telugu). They used to say that her huge nails caused a problem in her heart. It might be a case of ‘Digital Clubbing’ (abnormal nails present in some ‘Congenital Heart Diseases’). After one summer vacation, ‘Goru’ didn’t come back to the school. It was learnt that she died due to the nail / heart problem, and that heart surgery couldn’t be done as they didn’t have money to pay for it.

Perhaps, this incident prompted me to look at everyone’s nails from that time which might have led me to report the first case of ‘Yellow Nail Syndrome (YNS)’ from India in 1980 and the first case in the world of ‘Yellow nails & Covid’ in 2023 ( https://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com/2017/04/yellow-nail-syndrome_28.html ).

And, the preventable death of ‘Goru’ due to inability to pay for the treatment motivated me to start my ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic (PWYCC) half-a-century ago where patients may pay whatever they can. The credit for these case reports on YNS and the starting of my PWYCC should go to ‘Goru’.

-- T. Rama Prasad

That's how the concept of this type of clinic dawned on me about 70 years ago when my schoolmate 'GORU' didn't turn up after a summer vacation. She died of a disease due to lack of money for treatment. That motivated me to let people pay what they can.

This system didn't make any sense to many doctors. Even my kith and kin didn't step into my shoes. The charitable activity only attracted a derogatory smile, as I may have been viewed as a fool or a philosopher devoid of any common sense. I tell you from my long experience that the Income from such a clinic would be sufficient for a doctor's need, but not greed.

Little pleasures make immense happiness in life. For example see this little publication :

More than half-a-century ago, I wrote a letter to THE HINDU which was published to my excitement. It caused a shiver of delight in me. I felt as if I won a Booker Prize ! This 'accident' made me an ‘accidental letter writer' ! That little letter in print inspired me to write more. Many more of my letters were published in many newspapers and magazines, and later some articles were also published in THE HINDU and some medical journals.

And today (May 7, 2023), I received a mail from THE HINDU newspaper informing me that my article submitted recently would be published on May 14, 2023 (Sunday OPEN PAGE). This little publication brought me more happiness than my recent publications in a medical journal * ( world's first case of Yellow Nail Syndrome with Covid, etc. and a world record of 28 articles in 30 months on the single subject of 'COVID' in a single medical journal ) -- https://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com/2017/04/my-in-newspapers_28.html .

‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic

“Thena thyakthena bhoojithaha”– Ishopanishad

( Translated by Prof. B.M. Hegde as: “Rejoice in giving.”)

My clinic – ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic – has been known, apart from a degree of professional quality and transparency, for two main characteristic features. One is the ‘pay what you can’ facility and the second is the different 'nature-friendly' ambience. In fact, I had taken a small piece of land on rent and growing a tiny garden on the roadside for the visual pleasure of the public. A few exotic plants may make one gaze in awe. A little vegetation hangs on the walls of the reception area that may soothe the suffering. Some of my writings and a few amusing calculations like “Do this multiplication and see the result – your age x 13837 x 73 = ? and 111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321” on the walls may make waiting a tad less painful.

The rockery in the waiting hall with gorgeous flowering plants, waterfalls and an aquarium

We created this roadside hero with a few plants

The roadside garden

My consultation fee is not decided by me. It is the patients’ choice. It is optional. The patient may decide on the amount and drop it into the "hundi" (box to deposit offerings) kept for that purpose, just like the "hundi" in a temple. If one does not have sufficient money, one need not give any. For investigations like ‘X-ray’, pulmonary function tests, lab investigations and treatment, an amount of their worth is suggested by the staff, but the patient has the choice to pay less or more – whatever he / she can. And a part of the money thus received is used for charity to help the needy. Of late, I have been giving the entire money to help the poor and less fortunate.

My ‘Hundi’

This is my ‘not-for-profit’ ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic. This clinic is proposed for entry into a book of ‘Records’, being the only one of its kind run by an individual specialist in modern medicine for such a long period.

The concept of “pay what you can” is that the consumers pay a reasonable amount, sometimes less and sometimes more, so that the rich would indirectly give a discount to the poor and give the ‘not-for-profit’ facility an economic viability. The success of the scheme depends upon the conscientiousness and the sense of social responsibility of the consumer. The idea is to develop a ‘non-business and no-nonsense’ image to the medical practice, with humaneness as the front runner.

People may think that one would go bust or become bankrupt by this system. It is not so. Generally, people are good and generous. Some may underpay due to poverty, some, including the very rich, may take undue advantage and exploit, but some do drop generous amounts into the ‘hundi’. On the whole, it is fine; lots of professional satisfaction; sufficient income for one who is not greedy.

In appreciation of this “Pay what you can” system and in a rare gesture of encouragement, a philanthropist thought of “Donate what you can” and wrote the following poem on the envelope containing a hefty amount on March 19, 2012:

“Pay what you can

To a deserving man

Whose dedication

And love for his profession

Are for the others to learn.”

Of course, this is a very rare gesture. Many a rich are not helpful like Subramaniam. Contrary to expectations, it has been the middle income group which helped the poorer sections more in this clinic, indirectly.

Ideally, medical service should be a non-commercial service, with compassionate outlook and passionate commitment, the way in which it was in the Hippocratic era. Due to economic compulsions, commercialisation and corporatisation have come into play gradually, mostly all over the globe. I would have given fully free service if I had the needed funds.

Money is not the main thing in the minds of most of my patients. They come to me because of the confidence in treatment outcome and the psychological comfort -- not just for the “pay what you can” economy. Trust is the bedrock of this clinic. Money is secondary to them, and to me too. With the name, fame, professional standing and the official positions I held, I could have made a substantial fortune, rightfully or wrongfully, through professional activity or official decisions (I was the Medical Superintendent of a huge sanatorium and a medical college). But I didn’t. I went against the grain of conventional wisdom. Many dream of becoming a king or queen of a giant hospital, not of a ‘pay what you can clinic’. But eulogies are always about what sort of a person we are, and what mark we made in the world. That planted the seed of the idea in me, and I may have made a mark. I may be branded as a fool or a philosopher – read about my foolishness under the headings “FOOL OR PHILOSOPHER” and “RICHNESS AND HAPPINESS” on this blog. Prof. Patnaik described me as a “poor people’s poor doctor in rich-looking attire.” I dared to be different because I love to be different !

Pritam Bhattacharjee, Editor-at-Large of Pentasect and Founder & Chief of Wordsmith at Wordsmith Communication started an online teaching platform called www.wordsmithuniversity.com which is akin to a ‘Pay as you can’ University. I was invited to teach online via webinar at this university. In appreciation of my ‘Pay what you can’ service and my myriad of writings, Pritam Bhattacharjee wrote to me the following:

“ ... It is heartening to know that, as our living and working is increasingly coming under the animalistic doctrine of “Work – Consume – Die” culture, dressed in subtle and gross deceptions, there are many people like you who are aspiring for higher life and higher objectives. ... Let your pen (er, keyboard) contribute more !” (April 25, 2012).

“ My friend and a very gifted writer and person, Dr. T. Rama Prasad has one of his articles published in The Hindu which can be seen .....” visit: www. http://wordsmithofbengal.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/google-effect-and-kali-yuga-prophecies/-- Freelancer’s Freelancer – Google Effect and Kali-Yuga Prophecies.

“One of my friends and well-wishers of www.pentasect.com, Dr.T.Rama Prasad has written an article – one of the boldest ones I have read coming from a doctor on a medico-social phenomenon ...” visit: http://wordsmithofbengal.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/health-un-heath-and-fear-of-un-health/

“ Prasad, ... Your argument pierces the very heart of the ‘dog-eat-dog’ world and the umbrella of vested interests. ... Please continue your good and great work. In a room filled with darkness, the man who holds a torch is the most wealthy.”

-- Pritam Bhattacharjee,

Editor-at-Large of Pentasect and Founder & Chief of Wordsmith at Wordsmith Communication

wordsmith.bengal@yahoo.co.in

I am not alone in this type of thinking and doing. There are many more in this world. In 2003, an acupuncturist, Denise Cerreta from Salt Lake City started a “Pay what you can” ‘not-for-profit’ cafe (“One World : Everybody Eats”) which made a story of human compassion, love, trust and cooperation. In these eateries, customers may eat whatever they want and pay whatever they wish and can. Soon, Denise inspired many more in the US to start such service centres like “So All May Eat” cafe in Denver, “Comfort Cafe”in Northwest Denver, “Cafe 180,” etc. I am told that in Singapore also there is one eatery in a food court where one may eat whatever one wants and pay whatever one can. The concept has been appreciated for the non-monetary benefits of fellowship cementing the community. Contrary to expectations, these eateries are said to be doing well financially too.

We should look forward to the day when this concept of ‘Pay what you can’ becomes widespread and extends to various fields of service like health, education, food, etc. to promote goodness, generosity, fellowship and integrity in this world. All this is antithetical to what has been going on -- for example, the global arms trade exceeds $400 billion a year. Is it necessary to spend such a huge amount to facilitate killing of enemies ? Should we not use that amount for the welfare of the people rather than for warfare? The grammar of the planet should be changed. Replace the ‘coercive hard power’ of warships, bombs and missiles with the ‘soothing soft power’ of kindness, empathy and compassion. Did not the ‘soft power’ ended the 53-year-old war which claimed 220,000 lives in (South) America (Colombia--2013-- www.srisriandfarc.com) ?

Of course, mine is a small initiative to offer medical service with a “Pay what you can” facility. And, this system augments happiness for both the provider and the consumer. Happiness is a state of mind – it is within us, only we have to discover, share and enjoy – we need not become “big and rich” to be happy; life is short; take joy in the simple things in life. This forms the basis of my philosophy. And we need not look far away for happiness. It is here, within us, within you. It is available ‘locally’ and almost all are available locally, including medical aid. We need not go far. That is why the following sentence is printed on my prescription papers: “CONSULT YOUR LOCAL DOCTOR BEFORE RUSHING TO ME. MOST AILMENTS CAN BE CURED AT LOCAL LEVEL.” And the sentence “THE MOST PLEASANT REWARD FOR A DOCTOR IS THE PATIENT’S SMILE OF RELIEF” is the bottom line printed on my prescription papers.

“I Shall pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do, let me do it now, let me not defer it, nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” -- Etienne De Grellet

"Don't wait for other people to be loving, giving, compassionate, grateful, forgiving, generous, or friendly... lead the way!"

-- Steve Maraboli

“Kindness costs nothing; Think kind, help needy.”

“Blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that taketh.”

“We make a living by what we get; but we make a life by what we give.” -- Winston Churchill

"Give to the world the best you have; the best will come back to you.”

Remember the Aristotle’s concept of “enlightened self-interest”, which means that the more you benefit others the more you are benefitted yourself.

"We need not run after money. If we are meritorious and compassionate, money would run after us, and it eludes us if we run after it.”

-- T. Rama Prasad

“Richness is not having lots of money. It is the feeling that one has enough of it. Contentment sans comparison is what makes one really rich.”

-- T. Rama Prasad

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You may skip the following as they are not much of an information about this clinic.

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At the award ceremonies on July 3, 2016 and August 7, 2016

In the ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic

Yes, I do things in a different way. I had been caring for the plants in this photograph for a long time. I christened the tall cactus, Ferrocactus ferrerae, as “Sivalinga spiralis / God cactus” as it looks like ‘Sivalingam’ and has spirally oriented ribs, and gave it a divine look by adding ‘pooja’ items like bell, ‘deepam’, incense sticks, etc. You may read more about it under the heading “My lost (last) paradise” on this ‘home page’. -- T. Rama Prasad

"Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently.”

--- Shiv Khera

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On the occasion of the NATIONAL DOCTORS' DAY on July 1, 2014, the following article about the unique service of Dr. T. Rama Prasad is published in the July 2014 issue of the Telugu monthly magazine, SAHITHI KIRANAM. The article is written by the multi-lingual scholar, Prof. V. Prafulla Kumari, MA, PhD (English), MA (Hindi), PGTE, former Principal, Erode Arts College for Women, Erode and former Professor of English, Visalakshi College, Udamalpet

Dr.Rama Prasad garu,

Congratulations and felicitations on your commendable work and service for the common man. May God give you all the good things you richly deserve. Thanks to Prafulla garu for introducing you to the readers.

Shridevi Muralidhar, SAHITHI KIRANAM

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Reprinted from the FACEBOOK

FB id: T Rama Prasad August 11, 2016

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Dear Friends,

Yes, these photos were taken on the occasion of presenting the “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” to me by the Coimbatore Respiratory Society at the “CRSCON III 2016” National Annual Conference held on August 7, 2016.

Customarily, I was requested to say a few words on the occasion after the conventional introduction. I said something like this:

“ … Thank you all for the love and affection. I am not eminently worthy of the adulation and the encomiums showered on me. I am just a drop in the ocean. All the same, I am grateful to all those who lead me to this award. Perhaps, my greying grey matter is my eligibility for this honour !! I had learnt to accept the good and bad with equanimity. We are sometimes praised and sometimes pilloried. We should neither bask in the glory of success nor sulk in the shadows of defeat.

When I joined this speciality of Respiratory Diseases, half-a-century ago, our tools for diagnosis and the armamentarium for treatment were not sophisticated. Now, we have advanced to PET scans, bio-electronic technology, lung transplantation and the like. Notwithstanding the tremendous strides we made on the scientific and technological front, we are still groping in the dark corridors of respiratory diseases. For example, respiratory diseases like allergy, asthma and COPD are making life miserable with no cure in sight for most of the patients. And, even the well-understood disease, tuberculosis (TB) is killing 1,000 persons everyday in India today. Moreover, India has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of ‘Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis’ (MDR – TB) cases in South East Asia.

Should we be proud of sending space vehicles to Moon and Mars, or hang our heads down while 1,000 persons are dying every day in India due to TB alone ? We need to ruminate on this. … Thank you all.”

These are some of the few words I uttered to make the gathering of the specialists in Respiratory Medicine at the CRSCON III – 2016 Conference to think outside the box. A rare respiratory disease evokes great interest and discussion. A single death due to Dengue or Swine flu or Ebola or Zika hits the headlines. But 1,000 deaths everyday due to respiratory TB do not even raise an eyebrow !! Read my article titled “TB: an invincible scourge” for a view outside the box. This is one of my 1,000 articles !

The conference was well-organized and well-attended with excellent academic content. It is a memorable one.

Dr. T. Rama Prasad,
drtramaprasad@gmail.com, 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' Clinic, PERUNDURAI, Erode Dt., TN, India., Former Medical Superintendent (Special), RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre.

Reprinted from the FACEBOOK

FB id: T Rama Prasad July 3, 2016

PERUNDURAI is the "RATHINAM"

Perundurai is unique in many respects. Generally, it is a place of good-hearted, hard working, intelligent and ambitious people. In a short span of time it has become the hub of educational institutions and business enterprises. This evening (July 3, 2016), I had the pleasure of attending a grand function arranged by the "PERUNDURAI PUBLIC." It was impeccably organized and excellently attended by eminent personalities and a huge enthusiastic gathering of the public as well.

At this function:

(1) A book of historical documentation (about Perundurai and some of the personalities of the zone) titled "PERUMAIMIGU PERUNDURAIIN VARALARU" authored by Thiru T.K. Subramaniam is released.

(2) Some, including me, are honoured with the title "PERUNDURAI RATHINAM" in recognition of service rendered and the efforts made to enhance the image of Perundurai.

(3) Several eminent and outstanding persons delivered exceptionally interesting speeches.

(4) A 50-page-compendium of excerpts from my 500-page-'home page' is released to mark the opening of my website of my writings. The first copy of the booklet is received by Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami, MD, AB (USA), Chairman, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH), Coimbatore. This 50-page reading matter will be mailed to you, if you send a request to my mail ID -- drtramaprasad@gmail.com

On being conferred by the honorific title "PERUNDURAI RATHINAM", I said that I came to Perundurai half-a-century ago as a newcomer and took up the job of a Medical Officer with the idea of staying here for a short period just to experience the social and work culture here. I extended my stay, year after year, and lived here for 50 years (half-a-century) because the people in this geographical region are good, courteous, respectful, polite, helpful, loving and affectionate. It goes without saying that my wife Rajyalakshmi (who knows more people than me by virtue of her teaching job in the Vellalar College for Women, Erode) also feels the same about the people around here. After all, It needs two hands to clap ! She has been the pivot around whom we (family members) revolve. The family members include my son Dr. Rajeev T.R. and his wife Dr. Geeth Raj G. who had chosen Perundurai to practise their specialities of medicine and surgery. During my career, I had indirectly facilitated establishment of the Perundurai Medical College in this campus by the Ministry of Transport.

Thus, the people here made us PERUNDURAI PRASADS -- natives of Perundurai.

Thanks for the reverence and the goodness of the people of Tamil Nadu, we did not go back, though we could have gone back to our jobs. Rajyalakshmi was in a science college and I was in a medical college / health service, in Andhra Pradesh, before coming to Perundurai. And my father, a doctor, had a hospital of his own, for me to step into his shoes. I further mentioned that my goodness is a reflection of the goodness of the people here, and that they made us good, if at all we are good. To be a GOOD HUMAN BEING is the first virtue one should strive for.

“A man’s true wealth is the good he has done to his fellowmen.”
--- Mahatma Gandhi

I was introduced at the function with overwhelming adulation. And, glorifying encomiums were showered on me. I am not worthy to be honoured to this extent. I am just A DROP IN THE OCEAN -- just another normal imperfect human being. Thanks to Prof. Dr. K.P. Muthuramalingam and Thiru D.N. Chenniappan for the kind words and for thrusting me into the limelight. While I am glorified now as "Perundurai Rathinam," Perundurai has already been a "Rathinam" all along.

PERUNDURAI highly deserves to be documented to be put on a grand historical pedestal. And it is done now. We, PERUNDURAIANS, are proud of it. CONGRATULATIONS & THANKS to all those who made it happen. Thiru T.K. Subramaniam deserves accolades for his painstakingly done scholarly research and the documentation. The appreciation is evident in the last photo of this album (a warm hug).

I don't know how to thank you all.

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A BLOG ARTICLE in : http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com or www.rama-scribbles.in

A brief introduction

In the words of Prof C H Sivaraman, FRCP (London):

“ ... Dr. T. Rama Prasad belongs to a distinctly different and unconventional species of doctors. He speaks sparingly and does not even display his qualifications or merits, but his innumerable published writings (he calls them ‘scribblings’ though they are ‘pearls of wisdom and knowledge’, sprinkled with a bit of humour and sarcasm) which received wide acclaim talk eloquently for him. The ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic where services are available for which one may pay whatever one can is a facility run by Dr. Prasad for a very long time which could be a world record. Dr. Prasad is called a “god” by his patients, and many of them named their children after his name “Prasad” -- that is the height of recognition of goodness of a human being.."

Service to Humanity is service to God; Kindness costs nothing

This is not an ad, it’s about an odd service.

GREETINGS from

‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic

“Thena thyakthena bhoojithaha”– Ishopanishad

( Translated by Prof. B.M. Hegde as: “Rejoice in giving.”)

True to this quote, I have been rejoicing at what little I could give. Defying stereotypes, this clinic has been in existence for a very long time, sans glitz, blitz, ads, microphones, speeches and noise. As a matter of my policy, publicity is shunned. The reason is simple. Good work needs no noise and nonsense. My ‘SCRIBBLINGS’ on related topics may be accessed at: http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com or www.rama-scribbles.in

My consultation fee is not decided by me. It is the patient’s pleasure. The patient may pay (donate) whatever he can and what he wishes. If one is short of money, he or she need not pay anything. And the money thus received is used for charity to help the needy, the poor and the less fortunate. If interested to know more about this facility, go to: http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com/2017/06/pay-what-you-can-clinic.html

"We need not run after money. If we are meritorious and compassionate, money would run after us, and it eludes us if we run after it.” -- T. Rama Prasad

“Richness is not having lots of money. It is the feeling that one has enough of it. Contentment sans comparison is what makes one really rich.” -- T. Rama Prasad.

Dr. T. Rama Prasad, Director, ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic, PERUNDURAI, Erode Dt., TN, India. Former Medical Superintendent (Special), RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre, Perundurai, Website: www.rama-scribbles.in , Blog: https://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com, Email:drtramaprasad@gmail.com, Facebook: T Rama Prasad, Twitter: @DrRamaprasadt, WhatsApp: +91 98427 20393

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Dear Dr. Rama Prasad

I am sure the world will be a better place, if people understand your writings ... ‘EXCELLENT’ is the word. I cannot find any other word in this language to describe what you have written without any pretensions. You have brought out some home truths to those who care to read your website ... You are a great thinker, writer and crusader ... As usual, your messages are incisive, to the point and make lots of sense, much better than my articles …

... You are not only GREAT, but are a true missionary in medicine. May your tribe increase for the good of mankind. ….

Love,

-- Padma Bhushan Prof. B. M. Hegde, (awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2021)

MD, FRCP (Lond), FRCP (Edin), FRCP (Glas), FRCP (Dub), FACC (USA), FAMS, Former Professor of Cardiology, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, University of London, UK, Former Vice-Chancellor, Manipal University, India, Affiliate Professor of Human Health, Northern Colorado University, USA, Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of the Science of Healing Outcomes, Chairman, State Health Society’s Expert Committee, Govt of Bihar, India and Padma Bhushan awardee of 2010. www.bmhegde.com

CLICK ON THE HEADINGS BELOW TO ACCESS THE “SCRIBBLINGS”

· ABOUT ME and MY SCRIBBLINGS (2) 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' Clinic

· MY LOVE STORY & good old days (4) BETTER HALF (4) SHIVA, KRISHNA, Ramanuja & Ramanujan (5) MOTHER-IN-LAW (6) YOU ARE NOT OLD (7) MODERN MEDICINE -- the Good, the Bad and th... (8) Dr. Peon, PhD (9) MEDICAL CONFERENCES & Clinical meetings (10) RUN ON MONEY (11) MEDICINE IN RURAL INDIA (12) RURAL ARE THE REAL (13) INTERNET EFFECT (14) MARKETING TRICKS & INNOVATIONS (15) INCREDIBLE INDIA ! (16) SCHOOL EDUCATION (17) DEVALUED DEGREES (18) TEA, COFFEE and COMMERCE (19) SEX. and MARRIAGE (20) THE CHANGING WORLD (21) RAPE (22) SEXUAL HARASSMENT (23) DRESS SENSE (24) OPEN AIR DEFECATION (25) ONAM 2017 (26) TEST-TUBE BABIES and TERMINATION BABIES (27) TEST-TUBE PUPPIES (28) ASTHMA, ALLERGY & COPD (29) GIRL CHILD : GOLDEN CHILD (30) MY REAL AWARDS (31) TREES and PLANTS (32) PERUNDURAI MEDICAL COLLEGE & SANATORIUM campus (33) SOPHISTICATED CHEATING (34) NIPAH & ZIKA viruses (35) SWINE FLU -- A (H1 N1) influenza (36) INDIAN SUPERBUG (37) HCQ, IVERMECTIN, CORONAVIRUS and FRAUDS (38) YOGA (39) CORONA and CHARLES DARWIN (40) GOD, RELIGION & UNIVERSE (41) LOCKDOWN MEDICINE (42) CODUP (43) GOD-MEN (44) DOGS (45) CANCER (46) SMILE and STRESS (47) CIVIC SENSE & MANNERS (48) MY ART (49) TUBERCULOSIS in India (50) DIABETES (51) FOOLED TO BELIEVE (52) DENGUE, ZIKA and MOSQUITO (53) COMPLEXION (54) BAHUBALI (55) VINAYAKA chathurdhi 2017 (56) SUNDAY LUNCH ... Dec 3, 2017 (57) ABDUL KALAM (58) BIRDS and DRUGS (59) YELLOW NAIL SYNDROME (60) RICHNESS and HAPPINESS (61) FISHES (62) KMCH (63) MY 'SCRIBBLES' IN NEWSPAPERS (64) To live in INDIA or ABROAD ? (65) SILENT, ISOLATED and INSULATED (66) PONGAL FESTIVAL (67) SPB (68) CESAREAN DELIVERY (69) POLLUTION, Disease and Deepaavali (70) HAPPY 2018 (71) BRINGING UP CHILDREN (72) SINGAPORE (73) STAFF & STUDENTS. -- photos (74) "AHIMSA" (75) GRADUATION DAY -- 2018, Perundurai Medical Col... (76) PERUNDURAI is the GEM (77) WORLD CANCER DAY ..February 4, 2017 (78) INDIAN ENGLISH (79) FOOD, EXERCISE and SLEEP (80) Nurses Day 2017 (81) DEEPAAVALI (82) PUTHAANDU -- Tamil New Year Day - 2018 & 2017 (83) COMPUTER. ILLITERATE (84) SMILE and LAUGHTER (85) REMOTE ANCESTORS (86) ODD things ... wow, whacky & weird ! (87) FACEBOOK 'scribbles' (88) HANDWRITING (89) MY QUOTES

GREAT HOLY SOUL

16.10.2017

" ... I always wonder that we both seem to be identical in our thoughts, deeds and actions. ... I always cherish your friendship and appreciate your humanitarian attitude towards life, poor rural people and the needy. ... I went through your articles ... especially, the 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN Clinic' touched my heart, and after studying, I wondered: "What a great holy soul you are !" You are a living example of Swami Vivekananda. ... "

Dr. J.K.K. Munirajahh, M.Tech (Bolton)

Chairman, JKKM Group of Institutions & Industries

Komarapalayam, Tamil Nadu, India

"...A study of your work reveals how fertile is your brain and how facile is your pen. Your command of English is breathtaking. One cannot help being astounded by your encyclopaedic range of knowledge and its depth is unfathomable......Your sense of humour is very much to be appreciated. Your invaluable treasure "SCRIBBLINGS" is to be preserved for posterity....."

05.08.1999 -- Prof. P. Lakshmi, MA,

Principal, Vellalar College for Women,

Thindal, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India

Dear Dr. Rama Prasad, 20 Jan 1999

“..When I saw a copy (of your book titled "Some of my SCRIBBLINGS") in the medical college library, curiosity got the better of me and I borrowed it. As I went through it, curiosity turned into admiration. What struck me first and the most was your command over the language. I appreciated your interest in widely varied subjects, from pornography to piano, as the saying goes. I also realised that the interest was not just superficial, but substantial as evidenced by the statistics quoted to emphasise a point. When I finished with it, it left me wondering how you continued to sustain your interest despite having spent more than 3 decades in this place, well isolated and insulated from academic and intellectual environment...”

--- Group Captain (Retd) Prof. N. Ramachandran, MD,

Professor of Paediatrics, Perundurai Medical College Perundurai, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India

“… I am amazed to find how the book (Some of my “Scribblings”) mirrors your multifaceted personality – the sterling qualities of head and heart. It reflects the encyclopedic range of your mind. I am struck by the fact that there was no subject that is untouched – from physical to metaphysical, sacred to secular, all under the sun have been dealt with quite thoroughly, authenticated and well-documented to reveal a genuine humanist at work. … Combined with the art of healing is your art of drawing and painting. … We are amazed to see your paintings and to learn that the illustrations in the “Scribblings” are your own. …”

-- Prof. V. Prafulla,

M.A., Ph.D. (Eng.), M.A. (Hindi), P.G.T.E., Former Principal, Erode Arts College for Women, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India; Former Professor of English, Visalakshi College, Udamalpet, Tamil Nadu, India.

April 12, 2020

The following is the comment written by the internationally renowned scholar, Pritam Bhattacharyya (Editor-at-Large of Pentasect and Founder and Chief of Wordsmith at Wordsmith Communication, Chairman of Freelance Foundation, ) on the blog article on Coronavirus and COVID-19

(1) https://wordsmithofbengal.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/health-un-heath-and-fear-of-un-health/

(2) https://wordsmithofbengal.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/google-effect-and-kali-yuga-prophecies/

 wordsmithApril 12, 2020 at 10:42 PM 

“One of the best articles I have read on this theme and having balance, measure and proportion. Miss Corona in hindsight is really kind and benign in a sense - Nature has rolled a dice with fatality of 2-3%. She is under no obligation not to roll a dice of fatality 40,50,60% with Ms. Corona being "size zero" and "air-borne". Consider what would have happened ?

Dr. Prasad is one of the few doctors whom I know who fall into the rare category of "healers". A healer knows the art, science and commerce of healing, i.e. allowing the innate immunity of the body to manifest itself.

One should be very careful and critical about three things in the world : Big Pharma, Big Government, Big Science. In the proverbial Kali-Yuga, all three converge with overlapped agendas and sometimes not with the best interest in mind of the end users : patients, citizens, learners.

Finally, this pandemic will also pass. The system will come to a new equilibrium. But I think a whole generation will carry this impression forward and may become saner with this.

I nurture another hope : just like pivotal events propel a whole generation (Apollo Mission and interest in space science), this may inspire many young Indians to shift their focus into public healthcare, virology, immunology, public immunity, psychological counselling and learning the art and science of healing.

Again, it was very nice to find an article of this time in the avalanche of printed words in this theme.

Continue your good work.”

COVID world: 24 of my articles on ‘COVID’ were published in 24 months in Medical Journals which is a WORLD RECORD in Medical Journalism.

This article titled “Origin of COVID” is the 24th one.

-- Dr. T. Rama Prasad, ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic, Perundurai, India

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

. Origin of COVID .

RAMA PRASAD T.

Dr. T. Rama Prasad,

Formerly: Medical Superintendent (Special) of RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre,

Perundurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Presently: Director of ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic, Perundurai, Erode District, TN – 638052. drtramaprasad@gmail.com WhatsApp +91 98427 20393 BLOG https://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com

WEBSITE www.rama-scribbles.in Twitter @DrRamaprasadt Facebook T Rama Prasad

Telegram Dr T Rama Prasad

A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND SURGERYSN

Vol. 119 No. 8 August 2022 ISSN 0003 5998

Indexed in IndMED Email: admin@theantiseptic.in www.theantiseptic.in

COVID

articles authored by

Dr. T. Rama Prasad

and published in MEDICAL JOURNALS, making a WORLD RECORD

1. Rama Prasad. T., Origin of COVID. The Antiseptic, 2022 August; Vol. 119; No. 8; P: 09-17; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

2. Rama Prasad. T., COVID Deaths. The Antiseptic, 2022 July; Vol. 119; No. 7; P: 14-22; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

3. Rama Prasad. T., The long and the short of COVID in India. The Antiseptic, 2022 June; Vol. 119; No. 6; P: 14-27; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

4. Rama Prasad. T., COVID Fear and Paranoia. The Antiseptic, 2022 May; Vol. 119; No. 5; P: 09-17; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

5. Rama Prasad, T., Post-OMICRON Peregrination. The Antiseptic, 2022 April; Vol. 119; No. 4; P: 06-14; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

6. Rama Prasad, T., COVID – still an enigma. The Antiseptic, 2022 March; Vol. 119; No. 3; P: 20-25; Indexed in IndMED -- www.antiseptic.in

7. Rama Prasad, T., OMICRON – A Paper Tiger. The Antiseptic, 2022 February; Vol. 119; No. 2; P:12-21; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

8. Rama Prasad, T., Ominous Omicron of COVID. The Antiseptic, 2022 January; Vol. 119; No. 1; P:25 – 29; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

9. Rama Prasad, T., COVID and Tuberculosis. The Antiseptic, 2021 December; Vol. 118; No.12; P: 11-17; Indexed in IndMED -- www.antiseptic.in

10. Rama Prasad, T. The Science and Nonsense around COVID. The Antiseptic, 2021 November; Vol. 118; No. 11; P: 8-14; Indexed in IndMED -- www.antiseptic.in

11. Rama Prasad, T. COVID, Children and Schools. The Antiseptic. 2021 October; Vol.118; No.10; P: 08-18; Indexed in IndMED -- www.antiseptic.in

12. Rama Prasad, T. India’s Third COVID Wave. The Antiseptic. 2021 September; Vol.118; No.9; P: 14-20; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

13. Rama Prasad, T. Vagaries of India’s COVID Vaccination Policy. The Antiseptic. 2021 August; Vol.118; No.8; P: 10-16; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

14. Rama Prasad, T. Mucormycosis and COVID-19 in India. The Antiseptic. 2021 July; Vol.118; No.7; P: 21-26; Indexed in IndMED -- www.antiseptic.in

15. Rama Prasad, T. Disastrous Second COVID Wave in India. The Antiseptic. 2021 June; Vol.118; No.6; P: 20-27; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

16. Rama Prasad, T. COVID Variants. The Antiseptic. 2021 May; Vol.118; No.5; P: 11-14; Indexed in IndMED -- www.theantiseptic.in

17. Rama Prasad, T. Covishield or Covaxin ? The Antiseptic. 2021 April; Vol. 118; No. 4; P: 12-16; Indexed in IndMED – www.theantiseptic.in

18. Rama Prasad, T., Versha Rajeev. The Conundrum of COVID-19 Vaccines. The Antiseptic. 2021 January; Vol.118; No.1; P: 10-17; Indexed in IndMED – www.theantiseptic.in

19. Rama Prasad, T. 40+15 Hypoxia Test in COVID-19. The Antiseptic. 2020 December; Vol. 117; No. 12; P: 13-17; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

20. Rama Prasad, T., Versha Rajeev. Antiseptics, Disinfectants and COVID-19. The Antiseptic. 2020 November; Vol.117; No.11; P: 26-28; Indexed in IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

21. Versha Rajeev., Rama Prasad, T. Fear and COVID. Health. 2020 November; Vol.98; No.11; P:31-32

22. Rama Prasad, T., Versha Rajeev. Tea and COVID. Health. 2020 October; Vol.98; No.10; P: 4-6.

23. Rama Prasad, T. Is the “Lockdown Medicine” too toxic ? The Antiseptic. 2020 October; Vol. 117; No. 10; P: 13-15; Indexed in IndMED – www.theantiseptic.in

The articles may be accessed at IndMED – www.antiseptic.in

WRITINGS AND TALKS of Dr. T. Rama Prasad

List No. 1

1. Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis - Journal of the Indian Medical Association, Vol. 64, pp. 264-267, 1975.

2. Digital clubbing and Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteoarthropathy - Pathogenesis - The Antiseptic, Vol. 76. pp.

213- 215, 1979.

3. Childhood Tuberculosis - Part I - The Antiseptic, Vol. 76, pp. 449-504,1979

4. Childhood Tuberculosis - Part II - The Antiseptic, Vol. 76. pp. 567-574, 1979

5. Yellow Nail Syndrome - Chest (U.S.A.), Vol. 77, p.580, 1980 –

http://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(16)40458- 7/fulltext

6. Short-course Chemotherapy - The recent Advances in the Treatment of Respiratory Tuberculosis - Current Medical Practice,

Vol.24, pp. 41- 46, 1980.

7. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Thioacetazone - The Antiseptic, Vol. 77, pp. 99-102, 1980.

8. Yellow Nail Syndrome - The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases & Allied Sciences, Vol. 22, pp. 69-72, 1980.

9. Highly Purified Insulins - An Assessment - The Antiseptic, Vol. 77, pp. 3455-347, 1980.

10. Diabetes and Tuberculosis - The Medicine and Surgery, Vol. 21, pp. 10-12, 1981.

11. Tuberculosis Control in India - In Press

12. Tuberculin Test - Relevance to diagnosis in India today - In Press

13. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis - The Antiseptic, Vol. 75, p. 194, 1978.

14. Drugs in the treatment of Tuberculosis - The Antiseptic, Vol. 75, p.678, 1978

15. Chemotherapy of Tuberculosis - The Antiseptic, Vol. 76, p.248, 1979.

16. Streptomycin in Tuberculosis - The Antiseptic, Vol. 76, p.516, 1979.

17. Health of the citizen (Special article) - The Hindu, Vol.99 A, No.198, p.8, 1976

18. How effective is the TB control programme ? (Special Article) - The Hindu, Vol.100, No. 274, p.8, 1977.

19. Five years Plans and TB Control Programme (Special Article) - The Hindu, Vol.101, No. 275,

20. BCG vaccination - The Antiseptic, Vol. 76, p. 726, 1979.

21. Genetic Selection - The Antiseptic, Vol. 77, p.258, 1980.

22. National Tuberculosis Control Programme - views presented, on invitation by the Tuberculosis Association of India,

at the 32nd National Conference on Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, 1977.

23. Correlation between Geomagnetic Activity and Haemoptysis - paper presented at the II Tamil Nadu State Conference

on Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases, 1980.

24. Snakes.

25. AIDS - the disease of the decade - Radio Talk - All India Radio, Coimbatore, Feb. 1, 1986.

26. AIDS - What next ? - Radio Talk - All India Radio, Coimbatore, May 24, 1986

27. BRAIN FEVER (Encephalitis): taming the scourge - Radio Talk - All India Radio, Coimbatore, February 14, 1987.

28. HEALTH OF THE HIGH RISK GROUPS: Mothers, Children and elderly - Innovative Health Care Programmes,

Paper submitted for Scientific Session of the National Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Health administrators.

29. SAVING THE YOUNG - healthcare of the children in developing countries - Radio Talk -

All India Radio, Coimbatore, January, 1988.

30. MEDICINE and MONEY - Co-Chamber Journal, Vol. 5, Issue 8, p.8, 2010,

31. THE INDIAN SUPERBUG - Co-Chamber Journal, Vol. 5, Issue 9, p.15, 2010

32. SWINE FLU - Co-Chamber Journal, Vol. 5, Issue 10, p. 13

33. HEALTH CHECK-UP: how healthy is it ? - The Hindu, Open Page, Jan. 15, 2012 -

……http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open page/article2801701.ece

34. THE ‘GOOGLE EFFECT’: may be good, may be bad - The Hindu, Open Page, April 22, 2012

...http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/article3340116.ece

35. OF TEA, COFFEE and COMMERCE - The Hindu, Open Page, January 12, 2014 …

… http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/openpage/of-tea-coffee-and-commerce/article5567951.ece.

36. A BAD PATCH - The Hindu, OPEN PAGE, March 15, 2020 ...

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-bad-patch/article31069356.ece

37. MODERN MEDICINE: how good is it in India ? - Co-Chamber Journal, Vol. 11, Issue 5, p. 23, June 2016 & Vol. 11,

Issue 6, p. 18, July 2016

38. WORLD TB DAY: March 24, 2016 - Health, Vol. 94, No. 5, p. 20, May 2016

39. IS THE "LOCKDOWN MEDICINE" TOO TOXIC ? -- The Antiseptic, Vol.117, No.10, pp. 13 -15, 2020

40. ANTISEPTICS, DISINFECTANTS and COVID-19 -- The Antiseptic, Vol.117, No.11, pp. 26 - 28, 2020

41. 40+15 HYPOXIA TEST in COVID-19 -- The Antiseptic, Vol.117, No.12, pp.13 –17, 2020

42. THE CONUNDRUM of COVID-19 VACCINES – The Antiseptic, Vol. 118, No. 1, 2021

43. Fear and COVID-19 – HEALTH, Vol. 98, No. 11, pp. 13 -14, 2020

44. Tea and COVID-19 – HEALTH, Vol. 98, No. 10, pp. 4 – 6, 2020

List No. 2 contains references to about 1000 writings which may be found on my Website -- T. Rama Prasad

“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” --- Nelson Mandela

AUTHOR Dr. T. Rama Prasad

A short list of some of the published articles in The Antiseptic (a premier Medical & surgical journal),

‘The Hindu’ (a national Newspaper), etc. authored by Dr. T. Rama Prasad.

1. Digital clubbing and Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteoarthropathy -
Pathogenesis -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 76. pp. 213-215, 1979

2. Childhood Tuberculosis - Part I -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 76, pp. 449-504,1979

3. Childhood Tuberculosis - Part II -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 76. pp. 567-574, 1979

4. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Thioacetazone -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 77, pp. 99-102, 1980

5. Highly Purified Insulins - An Assessment -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 77, pp. 3455-347, 1980

6. Is the "Lockdown Medicine" too toxic ? -- The Antiseptic, Vol.117, No.10, pp. 13 - 15, 2020

7. Antiseptics, Disinfectants and COVID-19 -- The Antiseptic, Vol.117, No.11, pp. 26 - 28, 2020

8. Disastrous Second Covid Wave in India -- The Antiseptic, Vol.118, No. 6, pp. 20-27, 2021

9. Covid Variants -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 118, No.5, pp. 11-14, 2021

10. The Conundrum of COVID-19 Vaccines -- The Antiseptic, Vol.118, No. 1, pp. 10-17, 2021

11. Covishield or Covaxin ? -- The Antiseptic, Vol.118, No. 4, pp. 12-16, 2021

12. 40+15 Hypoxia Test in COVID-19 -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 117, No.12, pp. 13-17, 2020

13. Mucormycosis and COVID-19 in India -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 118, No. 7, pp. 21-26, 2021

14. Vagaries of India’s Covid Vaccination Policy – The Antiseptic, Vol. 118, No. 8, pp. 10-16, 2021

15. India’s Third Covid Wave -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 118, No. 9, pp. 14-20, 2021

16. Covid, Children and Schools -- The Antiseptic, Vol. 118, No. 10, pp. 08-18, 2021

17. The Science and Nonsense around COVID -- The Antiseptic, Vol.118, No.11, pp. 08-14, 2021

18. Covid and Tuberculosis – The Antiseptic, Vol.118, No.12, 2021

19. Tea and Covid -- Health, Vol. 98, No.10, pp. 4-6, 2021

20. Fear and Covid -- Health, Vol. 98, No. 11, pp. 31-32

21. HEALTH CHECK-UP: how healthy is it ? - The Hindu, Open Page, January 15, 2012 –

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/Health-check-up-how-healthy-is-it/article13379235.ece

22. THE ‘GOOGLE EFFECT’: may be good, may be bad - The Hindu, Open Page, April 22, 2012

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/the-google-effect-may-be-good-may-be- bad/article3340116.ece

23. OF TEA, COFFEE and COMMERCE - The Hindu, Open Page, January 12, 2014 …

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/of-tea-coffee-and-commerce/article5567951.ece

24. A BAD PATCH - The Hindu, Open Page, March 15, 2020 ...

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-bad-patch/article31069356.ece

25. Yellow Nail Syndrome - Chest (U.S.A.), Vol. 77, p.580, 1980

https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(16)40458-7/fulltext

26. Yellow Nail Syndrome - The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases & Allied Sciences, Vol. 22, pp. 69-72, 1980.

27. Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis - Journal of the Indian Medical Association, Vol. 64, pp. 264-267, 1975.

References to more articles by Dr. T. Rama Prasad may be found in: http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com

www.rama-scribbles.in

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Dr. T. Rama Prasad www.rama-scribbles.in

LOVABLE RURAL FOLK ... February 10, 2018

Yes, rural are really lovable folk. Most of them have a refreshingly rural and innocent background. They have blind faith in gods, and doctors as well.

After a few decades, we may see no more of such good plain-hearted rural folk. And, even now, we rarely see the good old grand grandmother of ‘topless’ (‘blouseless’) era ! The women of that generation cover their upper bodies with a piece of a cloth only (end piece of saree) wrapped around without any underclothing like bra or blouse.

Today (February 10, 2018), one frail-looking grandmother in that 'topless' attire (see the attached photo) walked into my consultation chamber, accompanied by her grandson, but not needed to be assisted by him to walk in. She (Gowandayamml) fluently talked in the grand old style ... said she got the appointment with great difficulty (limited consultations today, as I had to spare some time to attend my granddaughter's 'food court bonanza' at her school). At the end of the consultation, she wanted a 'cough syrup' (most of the 'cough syrups' are used unnecessarily and for psychological satisfaction, and to the great delightfulness of drug industry !). I gave her a sample bottle of a cough syrup, free of cost, of course ... and lo and behold, her face was lit up with happiness. Little pleasures ... little things matter in life ... read the 'Scribbling' titled 'Richness & Happiness' on my blog. She narrated at length of her previous visits over decades and profusely thanked me for keeping her fit (in fact, it is her good old lifestyle and her constitution that kept her fit, not me !). I asked her whether I may have a photo with her. She was amused and laughed. I called the receptionist to take a photo. The lady of the old school put up a serious pose for the photo. Receptionist, Nandhini, asked her to smile ... in vain ... perhaps, the grandma thought that one should not move or smile when the camera clicks (In our school days, photographers used to instruct us not to move or smile when they take group photos in the school, with those bulky 'plate' cameras with a long exposure time !). I shall give her a print of the photo when she visits me again ... curiously, we both are of the same age group by the calendar, though seem not to be by the images ! Finally, the plain, simple, candid and 'topless' granny left my chamber. After a while, she came back with money (hundred rupees notes) in her hand to put into my tiny 'Pay what you can' hundi, as consultation fee. I had to persuade her a lot not to give any consultation fee, saying that it's a great pleasure for me to treat her free of cost ... again there was a flash of a cheerful smile across her face. This is the most pleasant reward we get in medical practice -- the cheerful smile of satisfaction.

If you wish to read more about the good rural folk, click on http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.in/2017/08/rural-are-real.html

Reprinted from FACEBOOK … go to Facebook to read comments on this.

Dr. T. Rama Prasad, www.rama-scribbles.in http://drtramaprasad.blogspot.in
'PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic, Perundurai, Erode Dt., TN, India., Former Medical Superintendent (Special), RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre, Perundurai.

WORLD HEART DAY … September 29

Various writings and ads (with commercial colour of discounts) appeared today across the globe scaring the public about their heart health. Some of them, purported to be of educative value to the public, may have a hidden agenda of vested interests. And, some normal persons may be converted into patients ! People are confused on knowing about needless tests, medicines and even surgeries.

Much of the modern treatment may be like cutting some of the branches of an evil tree without tackling the roots. ‘Modernity’ in lifestyle brought in its wake all the adverse factors, STRESS & ECOLOGICAL IMBALANCE (destruction of Nature) being the important ones, associated with money, materialism, competition, comparison, ego, hubris, hegemony, selfishness, greed, arrogance, anger, miserliness, manipulability, vanity, vengeance, etc. MODERNITY may be the root cause for the arrival of COVID. Moderns may have to mend their ways to prevent emergence of more novel viruses. Should we celebrate March 11 (March 11, 2020 was the day on which the WHO declared ‘Covid’ as a pandemic) as the ‘WORLD COVID DAY’ ? Or should it be December 31 when the first outbreak in China was reported in 2019 ?

Cell phones arrived,  we forgot writing letters;
Automobiles arrived,  we forgot walking;
Computers arrived,  we forgot spellings;
Calculators arrived,  we forgot mathematics;
Modern jobs arrived,  we forgot families;

TVs arrived,  we forgot cinema theatres;
Digital games arrived,  we forgot playgrounds;
Modern pharma arrived, we forgot grannies’ remedies;

Speciality hospitals arrived, we forgot ‘MBBS clinics’;

Super-specialists arrived, we forgot family doctors;

Nuclear families arrived,  we forgot relationships;
Junk food arrived,  we forgot healthy meals;
Food courts arrived,  we forgot cooking;
HEART specialists arrived,  we forgot HEARTY meals !

COVID has arrived, we forgot everything else !

(In 24 months, 24 of my articles on COVID were published – a WORLD RECORD !)

Dr. T. Rama Prasad,

https://drtramaprasad.blogspot.com www.rama-scribbles.in
drtramaprasad@gmail.com, Director, 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' Clinic, Perundurai, Erode Dt., TN, India., Former Medical Superintendent (Special), RTS & IRT Perundurai Medical College and Research Centre.

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The first outbreak of COVID in the world was reported in China on the very next day (31.12.2019) of taking the above photo on 30.12.2019 !!!

“We are sometimes praised and sometimes pilloried. We should neither bask in the glory of success nor sulk in the shadows of defeat.”

Dr. T. Rama Prasad's Scribblings...

Sunday, April 30, 2017

'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' Clinic

Dr. T. Rama Prasad www.rama-scribbles.in

‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ Clinic

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