Patna: Even as most medical graduates are administered the ‘Hippocratic oath’ after completing their MBBS course, only few of them actually follow it in letter and spirit. But, 42-year-old urologist, Dr Gaurav Mishra, has been trying his best to use his medical knowledge for the welfare of the human kind.Ever since he started medical practice at Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital, Gaya, 11 years ago, service to the ailing humanity has been his motto. He has treated nearly 25,000 needy patients both from urban and rural areas of the state and performed more than 200 surgeries free of cost. Popularly called as ‘the doctor of the poor’, Mishra is driven by a personal promise to ensure that no one suffers due to lack of money.This resolve of Dr Mishra stems from the fact that her mother had to suffer a lot due to lack of resources at her disposal during the treatment of her kidney. “I still remember the physical and mental agony writ large on her face when she was running from one doctor to another to get her kidney treated, but none of them helped her. That very day, I decided to become a doctor and help the needy people to the best of my capacity”, he said.A urologist holding an MBBS, an MS (General Surgery), and an MCh (Urology), Dr Mishra has provided free medical advice to countless people in the past decade. He offers free consultation and treatment every Tuesday at his clinic at Saguna Mor, Patna, and regularly travels to his native village Durgadih in Rohtas district. He also holds special medical camps in rural areas of Begusarai, Vaishali, Samastipur and other districts to render free medical advice to the needy. Wherever he goes, he carries his own uroflowmetry device (an equipment that tests the flow of urine) with him so that he could treat the patients well. Besides, he often facilitates advanced care by connecting patients with, or seeking advice from, specialists at institutions like AIIMS-Delhi.His compassionate and patient-friendly approach has endeared him among the underprivileged people of the society.“I am a God-fearing man and, hence, I never like to hurt the sentiment of any one approaching me for help. It gives me immense satisfaction when patients thank me after getting well without spending even a single rupee,” Dr Mishra said.
