DOCTORS DAY: THE CELEBRATION OF DR BIDHAN CHANDRA ROY

Today is the 1st of July, also known as Doctor’s Day. We celebrate it in honor of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of the most influential men in Modern India.

He was born in 1882 in Patna, the youngest of five siblings, to a modest family. He studied at Presidency College, Kolkata, and later at Patna College with Honours in Mathematics. After completing further studies at Calcutta Medical College he left for England to pursue further medical training.

Records show he tried to apply at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, over 30 times before they relented and allowed entry. Within two years he was a fellow of not just the Royal College of Physicians but also the Royal College of Surgeons, a feat unheard of today.

When India was pushing for its freedom Dr Roy returned home with the aim of making his home nation’s people strong, healthy and successful. He had a major role in establishing healthcare facilities including the Jadavpur TB Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution and Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital in Kolkata.

He was very close to Mahatma Gandhi's personal physician & the only man Gandhi would reluctantly obey. During

When India got independence, he wanted to go back to medicine, but Gandhi told him Bengal needed him. During his fast in Pune, Dr Roy visited him and encouraged him to take his medicine.

Gandhiji had refused medicines because they were was not made in India and asked him, "Why should I take your treatment? Do you treat four hundred million of my countrymen free?" The doctor had replied "No Gandhiji, I could not treat all patients free. But I came here not to treat Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but to treat someone who represents the four hundred million people of my country."

Dr Roy was also very involved in politics and leadership roles, having a significant positive impact on people's lives. He played a role as the Mayor of Calcutta, Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University, President of the Medical Council of India and the Governor of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). It was under his mayorship that the city undertook a massive expansion in free education, public health care, road infrastructure, improved lighting, and water supply.

After Independence Gandhiji persuaded him to stay as a leader, in the office of Chief Minister of West Bengal, on the condition he could pick his cabinet without political interference. Under his stewardship, he elevated the state from a time of chaos and violence to one of peace within three years.

One of his quotes is hugely relevant in these times. "Difficulties are always there-they will always be there, and I am glad that there are difficulties, for they excite the imagination and the intellect, and you can then find out the means by which you can solve the problem".

It is this role model we celebrate today on Doctor’s Day.

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Revolutionizing Healthcare with Cashless OPD and AI: Secondmedic’s Strategy for the Future

Outpatient Department (OPD) services are the front door to healthcare for most patients in India. Yet today’s system is burdened by long wait times, fragmented services, and high out-of-pocket costs. The future lies in cashless OPD models powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) — and at Secondmedic, we are leading the charge by combining insurance-backed cashless access with AI-driven health insights to deliver faster, better, and more personalized care.

The Case for Cashless OPD

India has one of the world’s highest rates of out-of-pocket healthcare spending, with OPD visits making up a major share. A cashless OPD approach offers a breakthrough by:

Reducing upfront costs through insurance or subscription-based coverage
Simplifying access to diagnostics, consultations, and medications without billing hassles
Encouraging preventive care and early interventions, reducing costly hospitalizations

This model shifts healthcare from reactive to proactive, improving outcomes while lowering the financial burden.

The Role of AI in OPD Services

AI is reshaping healthcare — and OPD services are no exception. Here’s how Secondmedic harnesses AI:

Symptom Checkers & Triage Bots: Direct patients to the right specialist or care pathway efficiently
AI-Driven Risk Profiling: Analyze historical and real-time data to flag high-risk patients early
Smart Follow-Ups: Personalized care plans, automated reminders, and behavioral nudges
EHR Analytics: Detect missed diagnoses and ensure adherence to evidence-based protocols

By reducing human error and enhancing clinical decision-making, AI dramatically boosts the quality and efficiency of OPD care.

Secondmedic’s Strategy: A Phygital Health Revolution

Secondmedic’s vision is anchored in a phygital (physical + digital) strategy that blends human touch with digital intelligence. Here’s how we’re rolling it out:

1. Cashless OPD Packages

We partner with insurers and corporates to offer pre-paid OPD packages covering:

Unlimited online and in-person doctor consultations
Free or subsidized lab tests and medications
Mental health and wellness services

2. AI-Enabled Health Hubs

Our branded Health Hubs across India integrate:

Diagnostics
Doctor consultations
Pharmacy services
Insurance counseling

AI tools embedded in these hubs streamline patient flow, enable evidence-based care, and manage chronic conditions more effectively.

3. Insurance + OPD Integration

As a licensed insurance distributor, Secondmedic offers:

Seamless onboarding with health risk assessments
Embedded OPD benefits within insurance plans
Instant, paperless claim processing via QR codes or patient IDs

4. Smart Memberships for Retail Patients

For those without insurance, our Health Membership Plans offer:

Annual access to doctors, diagnostics, and medications
AI dashboards to track health scores, risks, and compliance
Real-time health nudges for medication adherence and check-up scheduling

5. Corporate Health Partnerships

We help companies reduce absenteeism and healthcare costs by:

Implementing cashless OPD services at the workplace
Running predictive health assessments powered by AI
Providing HR teams with real-time employee health dashboards

Why This Matters

For Patients: Removes financial and logistical barriers to care
For Insurers: Reduces long-term claims by catching illnesses early
For Healthcare Providers: Improves patient flow, compliance, and outcomes
For Employers: Supports a healthier, more productive workforce

Looking Ahead

Secondmedic is building a national network of Health Hubs — not just as clinics, but as digital gateways to AI-powered, cashless healthcare. Our goal: serve 1 million+ OPD patients through cashless plans by 2026, setting a new benchmark for affordable, intelligent, and accessible primary care in India.