Kannur: For the past five years, Dr. Ashwin Mukundan, hailing from Vadakkumbad in Thalassery, has been providing free medical treatment to the natives. For this young doctor, this act of generosity is merely a token of appreciation to those who supported him, as well as to the library that fostered his love for extensive reading. 

As the chief consultant at Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialty Centre, he dedicates the first Sunday of every month to offering free consultations at the Sree Narayana Library in SN Puram. He would not leave without checking on even the last patient in the line. People from faraway places also flock to the library for his free consultation. Around 100 people on average avail of the free consultation of the kind doctor.

He drives from Kozhikode every time for the same. Free diabetes and blood pressure checkups are also conducted as part of his free consultation under the aegis of the Joshith Memorial Charity Foundation. 

Uninterrupted Service 

“The thought of what I could do for my people led to the idea of free consultation. No matter how busy I would be, I make it a point to reach my place on the first Sunday of every month,” says Dr. Ashwin.

Only during the time of COVID was the free consultation interrupted for two months. 

Dr. Ashwin’s primary education was at BEMP School in Thalassery. Since then, it has been SN Puram Library, which was his 'reference’ centre. After completing an MD in General Medicine, he did higher studies in diabetes treatment. 

For his contributions in the field, Dr. Ashwin was honoured with many prizes, including the RSSDI (Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India) national award.

His article was also published in the journal released by Birmingham University on the experience of doctors who brought exemplary changes in the lives of people in India.

He is the son of retired teachers Mukundan Madhathil and M C Vijayalakshmi. His wife, Priyanka Kashyap, is also a doctor. Ishanvi is their daughter.