Highlights:
- Dr. Sunil Kumar Hebbi is a native of Bengaluru’s Malleshwaram.
- he left his work at BGS Global Hospitals to start the Matru Siri Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that provides medical treatment to those who cannot afford paid medical assistance.
- Dr. Sunil has organised over 800 medical camps and treated over 1,20,000 outpatients from Bengaluru and the surrounding areas.
Little different story
Dr. Sunil Kumar Hebbi, a native of Bengaluru’s Malleshwaram, had a gradual but abrupt transformation in his life in 2010.
Dr. Sunil was travelling along the Hosur-Chennai highway in Tamil Nadu on another busy day when he came across an accident victim on the road and raced to provide first aid.
He then went to the nearest hospital with the sufferer to ensure that proper medical treatment was given.
The thanking call
He received a call from the victim’s mother the next day, thanking him profusely and inviting him to dinner at their house.”I went to their house, and it was there that I realised the depth of the situation. He might have died from his injuries if I hadn’t intervened. “With her hands folded and tears running down her face, the boy’s mother thanked me.”
Experience that modified his destiny
Dr. Sunil’s life was forever transformed by that one experience. It caused him to reconsider all of his life ambitions, and in 2011, he left his work at BGS Global Hospitals to start the Matru Siri Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that provides medical treatment to those who cannot afford paid medical assistance.
Serving Those Who Are Underserved
“Getting a job at a good private hospital after graduating from Bijapur Medical College was a dream that not only I, but my entire family nurtured,” recalls Dr Sunil.
“To obtain my medical degree, my family had to take out a loan,” he recalls, speaking of his family’s hardships to educate him.
So it came as no surprise that when I acquired a well-paying job, it felt like the end of our problems.”
That was also true to a significant extent.
Dr. Sunil recalls putting forth a lot of effort to better the family’s financial situation.
Dr. Sunil was shaken by the occurrence with the accident victim, and while he realised he needed to find a method to aid others who couldn’t afford medical treatment, his own family’s situation prevented him from quitting right immediately.
“I then resolved to devote all of my weekends and vacation time to assisting people who were affected by poverty.”
“With the money I put in from my pocket, I started holding numerous medical camps,” he explains.
Dr. Sunil claims that despite the fact that he only had weekends available, he wanted to see as many patients as possible. As a result, he decided to turn his automobile into a fully functional mobile clinic. “I’d be able to drive to a place and start treating people right away.” “I didn’t need any infrastructure,” he explains.
After quitting his employment at the hospital in 2011, he began spending his days driving from one location to the next, treating patients. “While the majority of folks who come for consultation cannot afford to pay the fees, I treat them pro gratis,” he continues.
Only patients who inform me they can pay my prices are charged. So far, I’ve been able to get by thanks to the donations of friends and people who read about my work.”
“This is my duty and there is no way I will turn my back on people who need me.”
Dr. Sunil has organised over 800 medical camps and treated over 1,20,000 outpatients from Bengaluru and the surrounding areas.
He has earned numerous accolades, including one from India’s Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu, in 2018 for his NGO’s remarkable efforts in the field of healthcare.
As we wrap off our conversation, he encourages people to donate – not just money, but their time and talent as well – to help reach out to as many patients as possible.
“The third wave is exploding, and the spread appears to be out of control. Money, drugs, and manpower are all in short supply. So please come in and help.”
