BENGALURU: A 24x7 medical helpline, started by a group of 30 professionals, including doctors, engineers, and recruiters, is transforming how low-income families in Karnataka access healthcare. In just over a year, the team has assisted more than 900 patients from Below Poverty Line (BPL) backgrounds, and helped their families save over Rs 2 crore in medical expenses by guiding them to the most feasible and affordable treatment options.
The initiative — ABF Health initiative, a project by non-profit Active Bengaluru Foundation (ABF) — was born out of the confusion and helplessness the volunteers witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many poor families trying to gather where to go, how to afford treatment, and how to utilise government health schemes.
Accordingly, the helpline connects callers to district surgeons, government hospitals, and helps them understand how to claim benefits they are entitled to.
Thouseef Ahmed, a volunteer, said the helpline does not offer direct medical advice, financial support or treatment, but plays a critical role in helping families access existing government services. Volunteers help patients understand how to use their BPL health card, connect them to government hospitals, speak with Arogya Mitras, and assist in coordinating essential needs like oxygen support, diagnostics, or mobility aids. They also explain how to access funding under schemes like Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK).
“The idea emerged during Covid, when many of the same volunteers were involved in food and ration distribution. Over time, they found that many who were struggling to find treatment were not even aware of the government schemes designed for them. This gap between entitlement and access became the central motivation for setting up the ABF Health Helpline,” Ahmed said.
The initiative, entirely volunteer-driven, operates without any institutional funding, relying instead on a core group of five coordinators and a larger team of 30 individuals who take up follow-ups and case-specific support. Most of the volunteers are based in Bengaluru, though a few support from outside the city.
The helpline has handled 918 cases to date, with an estimated Rs 2.15 crore saved in treatment costs for families. Of these, 494 cases were referred to government hospitals, 79 to charitable institutions, and 15 to private hospitals in situations where public options were unavailable or urgent care was needed.
Who needed support
The most common medical needs reported include oncology (134 cases), nephrology (92), orthopaedics (92), paediatrics (88) and cardiology (86). Among the age groups served, infants (0-1 year) make up the largest segment at 267 cases, followed by adolescents (11-20 years), and working-age adults. The helpline number is — 93640 24365