Mother-Daughter Duo Offers Free Primary Healthcare to the Poor Through Anahat Clinic in Bengaluru

At 11 in the morning, a small rented medical health facility in Bengaluru was buzzing with commotion as it was packed with a large group of people. While some were waiting to check their blood pressure, others were expecting their turn for blood tests and to visit the doctor. This was the usual scene at Anahat Clinic in Shantinagar, Bengaluru. Started by the mother-daughter duo Rani Desai (70) and Priya (40) in 2022, the clinic's goal is to enhance access to primary and preventive healthcare for the urban poor.

Anahat Clinic offers free treatments to the urban poor by identifying, preventing, and counseling patients suffering from chronic illnesses, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and hypertension, among others. The clinic operates under the Anahat Foundation, which was established seven years ago to provide preventive and primary healthcare to the rural population through health camps. "Ensuring access to primary and preventive healthcare is critical because it's the bedrock of our medical system, keeping people healthy and thriving. Additionally, it prevents the escalation of various health issues," Priya Desai explains.

Reflecting on her transition from advertising to the social development sector, Priya says, "I wanted to do something impactful." After completing her journalism degree, she began working as a copywriter in advertising. A little over five years later, she shifted to the social development sector, following her "inner calling." For the last 15 years, she has been actively involved in the social development sector, addressing various issues like water management with organizations including India Water Portal, Arghyam, and others.

Among the many reasons for choosing a public career, Priya cites her mother's interest in the healthcare industry and her desire to help people as key factors. Elaborating further, Priya states that their shared interest in public service led to the idea of starting the Anahat Foundation in 2017. While conducting health camps, they found that many people suffered from chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. This realization prompted them to establish the Anahat Clinic in 2022 to provide primary and preventive healthcare for the urban poor.

A psychology graduate, Rani joined the advertising industry after completing her studies. However, she was always drawn towards healthcare. She later worked as the Head of the Biocon Foundation for over 12 years. She is also a core committee member and volunteer at Kutumba, an NGO in Bengaluru. "When I was younger, I used to accompany my mother, who worked in a health facility. I would sit there waiting for her shift to end. During that time, I observed how she diligently performed her tasks. I believe that exposure to the healthcare system sparked my interest in this field," says Rani. At the foundation, Rani manages operations and crafts public health programs, while Priya handles communications and funding for the foundation.

Reflecting on their challenges, Priya notes that a lack of resources in the public healthcare system weakens people's trust in free healthcare. "We had to build trust among people, and eventually, word spread on its own," she says. Additionally, managing the budget has been another significant challenge. "Earlier, we were often struggling financially, but now we are doing better. However, funding still seems to be a challenge," Rani adds. Rani emphasizes that quality primary healthcare should be free and readily available to all.

Anahat Clinic provides free primary and preventive healthcare to the urban poor. The clinic offers consultations with a certified allopathic doctor, free medicines, and lab tests, including blood tests, urine tests, X-rays, and more. The clinic has partnered with Aarthi Scans and Labs in Bengaluru. They also offer awareness and preventive health workshops for patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic pain, and mental health issues.

The clinic has employed a nutritionist who conducts workshops with eight modules, focusing on helping patients reduce salt, sugar, and oil in their diets. Besides teaching patients basic exercises, the workshops also explain the causes of the diseases and their symptoms.

The clinic also has a counselor who helps raise awareness about depression, anxiety, and stress. Priya explains that many people coming for treatment are laborers who often complain about chronic pain. Therefore, the clinic has also brought in a physiotherapist. The awareness sessions are conducted in batches of 20 people three times a week. The counselor and physiotherapist visit the clinic once a week.

Highlighting the importance of free healthcare, Priya shares a specific case. Arumugam, a 65-year-old waste picker, came in with his foot inflamed and swollen. His condition had gradually worsened over four months. He hadn't sought medical attention due to a lack of access to healthcare. It turned out that Arumugam had undiagnosed diabetes, which led to a diabetic foot ulcer. By the time he came for treatment, it was too late, and his foot had to be amputated. The clinic arranged his hospitalization and covered his surgery. The amputation forced Arumugam to stop working, shifting the financial burden to his wife, Kanakamma.

Jabeen Taj, a 48-year-old woman, had high blood pressure and high sugar levels. A tailor in Shantinagar, she is her family's sole breadwinner. She says she earns enough to support her family, but spending on healthcare is an additional burden. She explains that attending the awareness workshops, consulting at the clinic, and taking medication prescribed by the doctor have improved her health. "My medication dose has been reduced now. Thanks to the awareness sessions, I understood my condition better. This helped me adjust my daily lifestyle. Additionally, having these services available free of charge has lessened my financial burden as well," she explains.