For four decades, Dr. Ejaz Ali has kept one part of his medical practice unchanged: his consultation fee. The senior surgeon from Patna has charged patients just ₹10 for consultations since beginning his practice in 1984. Based in the Bikhna Pahari area of Patna, Dr. Ali continues to see more than 100 patients a day and performs several surgeries, while keeping his focus on making healthcare accessible to people who may struggle to afford it.
His approach is rooted in the belief that a doctor’s responsibility extends beyond treating an illness. For patients travelling from distant parts of Bihar, even a single visit can involve expenses on transport, food and accommodation. Dr. Ali therefore tries to see patients on the same day, reducing the need for repeated journeys. His commitment to affordable care has earned him a reputation as a doctor who places service above profit.
A ₹10 Consultation For Four Decades
Dr. Ali began practising as a general surgeon in Patna in 1984 after completing his medical education at Patna Medical College and Hospital and pursuing postgraduate training in surgery. His decision to keep the consultation fee at ₹10 has continued for more than 40 years, despite major changes in healthcare costs and the medical profession.
For Dr. Ali, the fee represents more than a nominal charge. It reflects his understanding of the financial difficulties faced by many patients. Families seeking medical care often have to manage the additional costs of medicines, investigations, travel and treatment. Keeping consultation charges low allows patients to at least approach a doctor without worrying about an expensive first step.
His practice also reflects this philosophy in other ways. Patients who cannot afford treatment may sometimes receive assistance, while those unable to make an immediate payment can be allowed to pay in instalments. His hospital has also been associated with comparatively affordable surgeries, extending his focus on accessibility beyond consultations.
A Busy Practice, A Simple Setting
Despite being a senior surgeon with decades of experience, Dr. Ali continues to work in a remarkably modest environment. Reports describe him sitting on a simple plastic chair and attending to patients in his hospital, often dressed in a kurta-pyjama and skull cap.
The contrast between his extensive experience and his simple surroundings has become part of his public image. However, his workload remains substantial. He reportedly sees more than 100 patients every day and performs around seven to eight surgeries. Patients continue to arrive from different parts of Bihar, seeking medical care that they consider accessible.
Dr. Ali has said that the satisfaction he receives from serving society motivates him to continue. His approach is not built around a single initiative, but around the everyday choices he has made throughout his career.
Putting Patients Before Profit
Dr. Ali has also spoken about the responsibility doctors have towards patients and their families. He has urged medical professionals to consider the financial condition of patients while recommending medicines, tests and treatment.
His message is particularly relevant in a healthcare system where medical expenses can quickly become difficult for families to manage. For patients with limited resources, unnecessary investigations or expensive medicines can add to an already heavy financial burden.
He has also emphasised the importance of clinical skills among young doctors. Rather than depending entirely on diagnostic tests, he has encouraged medical professionals to carefully examine patients, understand their symptoms and strengthen their clinical judgement.
This philosophy places the doctor-patient relationship at the centre of healthcare. For Dr. Ali, listening to a patient and understanding their circumstances are as important as identifying the medical problem.
A Family Following The Same Path
Dr. Ali’s commitment to medicine and affordable healthcare has also extended into his family. His late wife was a doctor and reportedly followed a similar approach towards serving patients.
All three of their children have also entered the medical profession. His son charges ₹100 for consultations, while his daughter, a gynaecologist, charges ₹50. Their fees are higher than their father’s, but the family continues to carry forward the principle of keeping consultations relatively accessible.
The family’s journey reflects how values around service can continue across generations. While the exact fees may differ, the emphasis remains on making medical care available to people from different economic backgrounds.
More Than Just ₹10
Dr. Ejaz Ali’s story is ultimately about more than a ₹10 consultation. The amount has become a symbol of a much larger commitment to affordable healthcare and public service.
For a patient travelling from another district, an inexpensive consultation can make the decision to seek medical help easier. Same-day consultations can further reduce the cost and inconvenience associated with repeated visits. In cases where patients cannot afford treatment, flexibility around payments can provide another layer of support.
Over more than four decades, Dr. Ali has continued to practise medicine in Patna while maintaining the same basic principle with which he began: healthcare should remain accessible to those who need it.
His story also raises a broader question about the role of affordability in healthcare. While one doctor cannot address every challenge associated with medical costs, individual choices can still make a meaningful difference to patients.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Dr. Ejaz Ali’s four-decade-long commitment shows how compassion in healthcare can be reflected through everyday practice. His ₹10 consultation fee, willingness to accommodate patients with limited means and efforts to reduce the burden of repeated visits demonstrate a model centred on accessibility.
His journey also offers a reminder that medical service is not defined only by technology, infrastructure or advanced procedures. The way a doctor treats patients, understands their circumstances and responds to their financial limitations can be equally significant.
At a time when healthcare affordability remains an important concern for families, Dr. Ali’s approach stands out for its consistency. He has maintained his ₹10 consultation fee since 1984, continuing to welcome patients decades after beginning his medical career.
For the many people who walk through his doors, that ₹10 may represent more than the cost of a consultation. It represents the possibility of seeing a doctor without first having to worry about whether they can afford to be heard.
Also Read: From Illegal Opium to Aranyak: How an IFS Officer Helped Gaya Find a New Path to Conservation
