'Doctors should adopt a village and do charity', says Dr. Vivek Kumar on National Doctors' Day

Dr. Vivek Kumar has been running free uninterrupted rural and urban skin outdoor clinics for the last 30 years, 5-days a week at several different organizations. Even though some centres are no longer operational and have been replaced by other centres at different locations, the routine of doing 5-days a week free clinics has been maintained for the past 30 years. For all his charitable services, he never charges for consultation and conveyance.

Dr. Vivek Kumar

➢ His day begins with seeing 30 to 40 patients free of charge in the mornings before he begins his own private practice in the afternoons and in the evenings. For this free service to be effective and impactful, consistency is the key: same times, same days and same location.

➢ As a practicing dermatologist in Lucknow since 1985, he began his charity work to help the poor and the needy. He has subsequently dedicated his life to eradicate leprosy from Lucknow and its surrounding areas. Since 1990, he has treated approximately 2,00000 patients, free of charge and has provided free medicines for them through help from pharmaceutical compaines.

➢ He received his inspiration to do charity work from his father Dr. Ram Krishan who received PADMA SHREE for his Social work in 2013. His late father told him that if one wants to learn and sharpen his skills a doctor should go to villages and help the needy people because the diseases are with the masses and that no body ever become poor by giving.

Charitable Work Innovations:

He introduced several innovative concepts for his charity work:

1. He begins his charity work in the morning prior to his own private clinic when he is fresh and most productive. This is his morning "Pooja" and service to humanity.

2. He started a Rs 1 'Daan Patra' concept at his private clinic where for every patient he sees he donates one Rupee into this fund for Mother Teresa's Missionary Centre to purchase medicines for leprosy patients to be distributed free.

3. Since Ist July 2018, which is Doctor's Day, all leprosy patients are Seen on Wednesday at his private clinic, and all leprosy patients are given, free leprosy medicine till cure.

Mega Leprosy Charity Camps:

​At Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre, Jyoti Nagar, Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, a mega camp was organized twice a year from 2000 to 2015 for the purposes of early detection and treatment of leprosy. During each camp between 250 and 350 patients were seen free of charge. Leprosy patients were provided free medicines for one month from the Daan Patra. Non-leprosy patients were provided free medicines donated by various pharmaceutical companies. Health education information is provided to patients to increase awareness about leprosy. As leprosy patients are educated, they become the best messengers in spreading the word about the stigma associated with leprosy.

Present Charitable Centres:

1. Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity Leprosy Rehabilitation Center, Jyoti Nagar, Mohanlalganj, Lucknow (1992 to Present). This centre has a 100-bed hospital for both male and female patients, a leprosy rehabilitation centre, a resident cobbler, and a Shishu Bhavan.

➢ Monday is dedicated for all skin patients.

➢ Thursday is dedicated for leprosy patients and women.

2. Harbilas Bal Evam Mahila Chikatsalaya, Charbagh, Lucknow (1990 to Present) Here, he provides free consultation to around 30 to 40 patients per visit. Patients include women and children with various dermatological problems.

➢ Tuesday is for all skin patients.

➢ Friday is for women and children.

➢ Wednesday Leprosy Clinic at Private Centre

Past Charitable Centers:

1. Cantonment General Hospital, Sadar, Lucknow, a subsidiary of the army hospital (1998 to 2014)

2. Vivekanand Hospital, Niralanagar, Lucknow. (2000 to 2002)

3. C.B. Gupta Agricultural University Rural Center, Bakshi Ka Talab, Lucknow. (2015 to 2018)

Honorary Consultancy and Teaching:

1. Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Super Specialty Teaching Institute, Lucknow (S.G.P.G.I.) Lucknow (1999 to 2008). At General Hospital, he Provided, once a week, free service to employees and indoor patients.

2. Post Graduate Skin Centre, Base Hospital, Lucknow (1992 to Present); It is a MD Dermatology Teaching Institute where he participates in clinical discussions of difficult and interesting cases for the benefit of patients, student, self and faculty, once a week for the past 28 years.

3. Lucknow Dermatological Association (1992 to Present). At IMA Bhawan, he discusses rare and the difficult cases on a monthly basis with all leading dermatologists of Lucknow.

Honours and Recognitions:

➢ In January 2018, Dr. Kumar was awarded the prestigious DERMASEVA Award by the Indian Association of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology (IADVL) for his work on leprosy at their National Conference in COCHIN Kerala.

➢ In December 2017, at their National Conference,-The Skin Centre, Base Hospital Lucknow gave him their Lifetime Achievement Award for his 25 years of contribution to social work and bringing difficult cases to teach the faculty and the students.

➢ In September 2017, the IMA, Lucknow recognized Dr. Kumar for his lifetime charity work.

➢ In 2018, 2019, 2020 The a not- for-profit organization, recognized him for his outstanding contribution in the Field of Health for his Leprosy Mission.

Media Coverage:

​As more and more people have become aware of the work he has been doing, considerable interest has been developed both locally and regionally about his unique approaches to the charity work. In the recent past, there has been considerable coverage in the media and several articles have been written about his work in various magazines like India Today and newspapers like Dainik Jagran, Hindustan Times and Nav Bharat Times.

Stay tuned with the newstrack to get fastest updates. Click @englishnewstrack to follow us on Facebook and @newstrackmedia to follow on Twitter.