This Madurai Doctor On Wheels Is Caring For 5000 Abandoned Elderly, Support Him

On September 16, 2019, in Madurai, a 29-year-old doctor transformed a Maruti Eco ambulance van into a fully-equipped mobile healthcare unit and named it “Doctor on Wheels.” And just like that, he had started a healthcare revolution. 

“In my corporate tenure, I once saw a patient being discharged because he couldn’t pay his bills. Shortly after, he passed away. He was on the path to recovery! That instance moved me deeply…and I decided to make healthcare accessible to the elderly from all socio-economic backgrounds. And at their homes. So, just like Swiggy and Zomato deliver food at your doorstep, I now deliver quality and affordable healthcare to the elderly.” – Dr. Swaminathan

Every day, from 2:00 am to 10:00 pm, a tireless Dr. Swami drives around Madurai, treating the elderly

“I believe the elderly need a lot of affection and someone to talk to. As a policy, I spend 20-25 minutes with each of them. So, with just 3 hours of sleep a day, I am up and running as early as 2:00 am. That’s the only way I am able to make enough time for each of my patients spread across Madurai.” – Dr. Swaminathan 

In the first weeks of inception, Doctor on Wheels treated only 8 patients. But when COVID struck, healthcare at home became the need of the hour and Dr. Swaminathan treated 700 COVID patients with a recovery rate of 99%. 5 years later, he has successfully treated 30,000 elderly patients, and has over 5,000 active elderly patients.

Shyamala Healthcare – a center for the under-served elderly

Earlier this year, Dr. Swaminathan established a first of its kind geriatric center in Madurai that offers palliative care, end-of-life care, and geriatric day-care at low charges to ensure elders from middle-income and underserved families can receive quality care without facing financial burdens.

“Senior citizens are my family…if I don’t take care of them, who will? Shyamala Healthcare was established to make room for more elderly patients from lower-economic backgrounds. Today, I am able to treat more patients. Currently I provide 80 senior citizens with monthly doctor visits and free monthly medication, and have around 5,000 active elderly patients from Doctor on Wheels!” – Dr. Swaminathan

The beloved grandson of 5,000 elders across Madurai needs your support to deliver doorstep healthcare across Tamil Nadu

“There are so many neglected, isolated, specially-abled and underprivileged old people all across Tamil Nadu. I want to go beyond the borders of Madurai, and take Doctor on Wheels to each and every one across Tamil Nadu, to ensure they receive quality healthcare. I am trying to start a revolution here, and I need your support.” - Dr. Swaminathan