Unsung heroes | Doctor who quit private jobs to bring free healthcare to doorstep

Somewhere in Bengaluru, a van may be parked outside a slum or construction laborers' shed. Inside the vehicle is a folding chair, a table, medical equipment, and a doctor who has turned his van into a traveling clinic. Meet Dr. Sunil Kumar Hebbi, who has been quietly redefining healthcare for people who cannot reach it themselves for over a decade.

Born to a farming family in Karnataka’s Vijayanagar district, Dr. Hebbi started his medical career at private hospitals in Bengaluru after completing his MBBS in 2007. However, he soon grew disillusioned with the hospitals' practices, which included unnecessary admissions and surgeries, and hospitals profiting from unnecessary procedures. He was also troubled by the government's Yashaswini cards, which encouraged hospitals to recommend surgeries even when they were not necessary.

Motivated by his upbringing and experiences, Dr. Hebbi began treating poor patients in his village and in Bengaluru during his free time. An incident on Hosur Road in 2010, where he helped a road accident victim and later their mother, moved him profoundly. He decided to turn his van into a clinic, the Matru Siri Foundation, to provide free healthcare to those in need.

Partnering with old-age homes, government schools, and slum communities, Dr. Hebbi's foundation partners with these organizations to run free medical camps every weekend. Volunteers, both medical and non-medical, help screen dozens of patients and refer more serious cases to specialists at government hospitals. Dr. Hebbi has treated more than 1.5 lakh patients since the foundation's establishment.

The Matru Siri Foundation has also been active during natural calamities, such as the Kodagu landslide, Chennai floods, and Kerala floods, providing aid and support. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Hebbi continued to conduct camps and treat patients in their homes. Despite facing activism against corruption in government hospitals and private hospitals, Dr. Hebbi has remained dedicated to providing free healthcare to those who cannot afford it.