Patna doctor charges just Rs 10 for consultation for over three decades
"I get satisfaction from serving society"
Patna: In a time when hospitals, by and large, are driven by profits and seen as money-minting businesses, a doctor in Patna charges just Rs 10 as a consultation fee.
Dr Ejaz Ali, known as the messiah of the poor, charges minimal consultation fees, in stark contrast to the Rs 800-1,200 range set by most doctors, according to a report by the Times of India.
Surgeries at his hospital are also priced significantly lower; an appendix operation, which includes post-surgery medicines, costs around Rs 17,000, while gallbladder stone removal is priced at just Rs 11,000, including medicines. In several instances, even these charges are waived off, or attendants are given the option to pay in installments.
Dr Ali began practicing in 1984 in Patna's Bikhna Pahari locality. His consultation fee has remained unchanged at Rs 10 for over three decades. Dressed in a simple kurta-pyjama and skull cap, he can be seen daily sitting on a plastic chair in the open courtyard of his hospital on Ashiana-Digha Road, where hundreds of patients wait for their turn. On an average day, the renowned general surgeon treats over 100 patients and performs seven to eight surgeries, the report added.
When asked about his low fees, Dr Ali explained, "I saw poverty around me, and there were certain instructions from my mother too." He emphasised that, aside from the nominal consultation fee, he ensures all patients are seen on the same day to avoid extra costs for accommodation, food, and travel. "I get satisfaction from such service to society," he was quoted as saying by TOI.
When asked for advice for other doctors, he emphasised the importance of considering the patient's financial situation before treatment, advising against unnecessary tests and expensive medicines, and encouraging doctors to rise above greed.
Dr Ali’s late wife, also a doctor, shared the same philosophy, charging just Rs 10 for her services. Now, his three children, all doctors, continue his legacy. His son, a graduate of a prestigious American institute, charges Rs 100, while his daughter, a gynaecologist, charges Rs 50.
Beyond medicine, Dr Ali has dedicated himself to social causes, working tirelessly for the upliftment of the underprivileged, particularly Dalit Muslims. He has long been an advocate for their reservation rights.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
