A Bengaluru-based neurosurgeon has performed 97 free or subsidised spinal surgeries for the underprivileged patients from 2013 to December 2016.
A good Samaritan named Dr Arvind Bhateja has funded these operations by pedalling hard. Apart from heading a team of neurosurgeons at the Sita Bhateja Speciality Hospital, he is one of the top cyclists in India.
He has participated in various races and raised enough funds for these surgeries.
Bhateja last participated in the Tour of Nilgiris, an over 800 km-race across Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which was covered in six days. He won in the ‘Veterans’ category and also raised Rs 3.5 lakh to cover the spinal surgeries for those who can’t pay for themselves.
“A lot of patients who come to our hospital can’t afford it. Before we came up with this initiative, there were times when we would subsidise the rates or even do some surgeries for free. But it wasn’t feasible because there are always costs incurred for equipment or technology. Sometimes they need implants which are expensive and we would have to turn them away,” he told Better India.
He along with his peers raised Rs 1.5 lakh in 2013. In 2014, Bhateja’s brother Vivek rode on behalf of the hospital and raised Rs 3.5 lakh; and in 2015 Rs 10 lakh was raised. He will also be selling his prizes, that include a trek bike, and will donate that money towards the scheme.
(With inputs from Better India)
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