Chennai's beloved '5-rupee doctor' Thiruvengadam dies

The compassionate Dr V Thiruvengadam, famous as Vyasarpadi's 'five-rupee doctor,' passed away of cardiac arrest at the Southern Railway Hospital in Chennai. He began treating patients for a consultation fee of Rs two in 1973 which he later increased to Rs five after immense pressure from his own patients.

Chennai: Many residents of Chennai are mourning the death of Dr V Thiruvengadam, famous as Vyasarpadi's 'five-rupee doctor'. He died of cardiac arrest at the Southern Railway Hospital on Saturday.

The compassionate doctor, whose clinic at V Kalyanapuram was open to all sections of society. He was 70 years old and survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

An alumnus of Government Stanley Medical College, Dr Thiruvengadam shot to fame in 2017 after the release of Tamil movie 'Mersal' in which hero Vijay plays a '5 rupee doctor.'

Affordable medical service to the underprivileged sections in Vyasarpadi, a neighbourhood in Chennai, was Thiruvengadam's sole aim and he practised it till his final moments.

It is to be noted that while practising at the Madras Medical College, he equipped himself to dress the wounds of leprosy patients, who most medics hesitate to attend due to absence of enough resources and precaution.

He began treating patients for a consultation fee of Rs two in 1973 which he later increased to Rs five after immense pressure from his own patients.

According to sources, locals and doctors in the neighbourhood had urged Thiruvengadam to at least accept a nominal fee of Rs 100 for consultation which the latter refused politely.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, DMK president MK Stalin, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, and many others have expressed their condolences.