The detection of underlying health conditions, which often remain undiagnosed among the rural population in the absence of routine health check-up, was termed as a major “achievement” by doctors who visited rural households on the first day of “Duare Daktar (doctor at the doorstep)” in Malda.

The doctors of Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) on Thursday visited Habibpur block, nearly 25km from the district headquarters, to treat patients from remote areas under the scheme announced recently by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

This was the first camp in the district under the scheme to render health services to the poor who cannot afford to visit the specialists at MMCH for different reasons. Nitin Singhania, the district magistrate, along with the principal of MMCH Dr Parthaparatim Mukherjee, vice-principal-cum-medical superintendent Dr Puranjay Saha and the chief medical officer of health of the district Dr Papri Nayak were present to oversee the arrangements on the first day.

Mukherjee, the MMCH principal, said that in each area the camp would be held for two consecutive days. “The next camp will be held at Gazole block. This camp was an achievement as many diabetic patients came to know about their disease for the first time at the camp on Thursday,” he said.

Nearly 300 patients from mostly the tribal areas visited the camp at the local ITI between 11 am and 4 pm by the doctors of MMCH. Two doctors each from 10 specialities of MMCH were present at the camp to treat the patients.