A doctor in Bloemfontein has opened a practice that only charges patients what they can afford to pay.

The South African’s article says Dr Paulo de Valdolerios, of the Walk-In Doctor, recently caused a stir when he opened his medical practice in Westdene in Bloemfontein. According to The Bloemfontein Courant, the idea of Walk-In Doctor is a practice with an unusual twist, where patients only pay what they can afford.

“It’s a God idea. It’s not my idea. It goes against all human logic and that’s why it’s caught the imagination of so many people.” Dr Paulo de Valderios told Gateway News.

Bloemfontein walk-in medical practice charges patients what they can afford
The idea with Dr Paulo de Valdolerios’s practice was not to make history, but rather to make people think differently. https://t.co/e8iDGFxzJU pic.twitter.com/H54BtiyYbc

— PolokwaneReview (@PolokwaneReview) June 21, 2019

How does it work?

At the practice, the patient walks in, gets examined by Dr Paulo, and he gives them basic medication. The patients then head over to the secretary where they pay what they can afford. No bookings are necessary- they work on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dr Paulo explained that the idea of the practice was not to make history but rather to make people think differently. “There are so many people who really need help but cannot afford it,” he told The Bloemfontein Courant. The doctor, who only graduated at the age of 51, said that his sole interest is in primary healthcare and providing for day-to-day health and medical needs, and teaching people to take better care of their bodies in order to live healthier, longer lives.

“I believe that medicine is my calling, it’s something that you’re born for and I have always wanted to do this. We all chase money but I’m tired of chasing money, I don’t want to be the boss and be in charge, I just want to do what I like to do and that is help people.”

Read more on The South African.