Nearly 50,000 commuters checked their health status at the 'one rupee clinic' situated at various stations along the Central Railway (CR) route in a year. The first clinic was opened at the Ghatkopar railway station on May 10, 2017. The founder has proposed the state transport minister to replicate the same initiative on the Western Railway line and at talukas across the state.

Dr Rahul Ghule, founder of the 'one rupee clinic' initiative said that the whole aim was to provide medical treatment to the general public and accident victims at crowded railway stations.

As per the data, the clinic at Dadar railway station saw the highest footfall of around 20,000 commuters in a year. Dr Ghule, said that on an average three to four railway accident cases are handled by the Dadar clinic every day. The one rupee clinics at Kurla and Thane attend to one or two accidents daily. "Thane has maximum number of accidental death cases," he said.

The whole idea of the clinic was to provide affordable healthcare and cost-effective medical service. Paramedics from the clinic have helped four pregnant women with emergency deliveries. "Out of the four deliveries, three were pre-term babies," Dr Ghule said. He added that if the state gives them space at bus depots, he could start clinics there as well. "It will help the rural population during accidents and emergencies," Ghule said.

HEALING TOUCH