Dr Makineni Rama Rao, popularly known as ‘one rupee doctor’, died at a private hospital here Wednesday morning while undergoing treatment after he was rescued from a fishing net in which he was caught while swimming in river Krishna Sunday.
Dr. Rao, a native of Thotlavalluru in Krishna district, is survived by his wife and two children. In a freak incident, Rao (73), got trapped in a fishing net while swimming in the river Krishna Sunday. However, he was rescued and admitted to a hospital. Family sources said that Dr Rao was a regular swimmer in river Krishna. He is known for his humanitarian and philanthropic services, and used to charge only `1 as the consultation fee for his medical services for patients at the Praja Vaidyasala (People’s Hospital), which was jointly established by him and his classmate Dr Bhaskara Rao.
Dr Rao was the first batch MBBS student of the Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal. He was a member of the SFI.
He offered his services to the people during Diviseema cyclone in 1977, by organising medical camps in the flood-affected areas following the directions of Marxist leader P Sundaraiah. He was the president of the AP Private Nursing Homes Association during 2004-05. Several prominent persons including senior journalist C Raghavachari, CPM leader R Raghu condoled the death of Dr. Rao.