Established in 2000, Shri Onkar Singh Memorial Trust--providing free medicare to ailing and needy patients--is a boon for the populace of rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

Comprising 15 specialised doctors headed by Dr. K S Charak, the 30-member team is camping in this remote village of Bishnah tehsil from October 2 to 6 and treating people at a temporary Operation Theatre and Out Patient Department, without charging them a penny. The surgical and medical camp is a boon for the poor of adjoining villages, who cannot afford surgical treatment. Over 500 patients have visited the week-long camp, which will conclude on October 6.

“It is the 52nd camp conducted by the Trust which started functioning years ago in 2000,” Dr K S Charak---the founder of Shri Onkar Singh Memorial Trust mentioned. He said during the past four days, around 45 surgeries were performed, pointing out that, “Our aim is to give benefit to maximum people.” Retired as a surgeon, Dr Charak revealed, “I was fond of mountaineering and trekking and the people residing in higher reaches used to often ask for medical aid from me when taken ill.

It inspired me and my colleagues to work for the welfare of the people, especially those who have no or negligible accesses of medical help and cannot afford prolonged treatments and surgeries.” It was in 2000, a trust in the name of his father was set up having five members at present, Dr Charak said.

“We are holding regular medical camps in various parts of the country but mainly the focus of our mission remains rural and border belts of Jammu region.” Dr Charak, who had donated his ancestral land to establish the base hospital in this remote village, added, “We are charging not even a single penny from the patients for undergoing a surgery. Moreover, we also provide free medicines, food to patients besides shelter to the attendants.”

Other members of the trust are K S Mehta (Chairman), Ambika Charak, Sunil Malhotra and Prof RS Charak.
Dr KS Charak said the next camp will be organised likely from November 18 here. “We are spending collectively from our own pockets and treating people,” said Dr Charak. He added that there is no financial support from the state or the Central Government so far, adding, “We really feel privileged to treat people especially when they go home with a smile on their face.”

A team of doctors performs surgeries including orthopaedic, gall bladder stones, kidney stones, hernia, prostrate and others, at the makeshift operation theatre set up at the camp site. “'I was diagnosed of gall bladder stone but due to financial constraints, I was unable to undergo a surgery,” a patient said.

He said he came to know about this medical camp and consulted the doctors following which he was operated and now he was stable. Dr KS Charak, however, pointed out that a lot many things were required to be done in the field of health across the country and added, “Doctors have to be professional not only by charging hefty fees from the patients but must help them, work for the needy and poor with positivity.” The surgeon however, is planning to expand the hospital premises in view of rising number of patients every year.