Medical Care in 1950's Bangalore

At that time, it was primary & simple. Most of the medical practitioners were qualified only with L.M.P. (Licensed Medical Practioner) a much shorter course than M.B.B.S., which was acquired by only a handful of elite doctors. All these general practitioners were "single point contacts" in that they would not refer to further tests (no diagnostic labs). They would not even write out a prescription, but give out powders (probably pounded from tablets) & a liquid mixture in bottles like fever mixture, cold mixture etc., prepared by "compounders" employed by them.

In extreme cases, they might refer to specialists, of whom there were only one each in the whole city! For example, Dr Venkatasubba Rao was the only Cardiologist & Dr. Srinivasamurthy the only Orthopaedic Surgeon in the city. For dental problems, one would visit the Govt. Dental College. For life or death cases, there were only Govt. Hospitals. For Eye check-ups, Dr. Mekhri (near Lalbagh) was the only go-to  eye specialist, apart from the Minto Hospital. S. R. Gopala Rao was the only shop preparing & selling the spectacles.

Though the care was extremely elementary & unable to diagnose & cure many diseases which are easily cured now, the silver lining in the cloud was, none would recommend (probably avoidable) tests & treatments just to keep the diagnostic labs & other specialists busy & occupied. This trend started with the mushrooming of private "nursing homes", which were the precursors of the current Corporate Hospital Chains, who prioritise stockholder dividends over patient care & doctors' well being.