Introduction

In a quiet corner of Kozhikode City, a small queue forms every month — mostly elderly women in white sarees, patients on chemotherapy, or caregivers of mentally ill children. They’re not here for consultation. They’re waiting for their monthly lifeline — a neatly packed bag of medicines from Shamanam, our Free Medicine Support Program.

In Kerala, often celebrated for its healthcare model, one painful truth still remains — the cost of medicines can cripple poor families. And when the illness is long-term, survival becomes a daily struggle.

A Silent Crisis Few Talk About

Public hospitals may offer consultations and basic care for free, but out-of-pocket expenses for medicines are often too heavy for the poor.

• A course of oral chemotherapy may cost ₹5,000/month.

• A neuro patient needs medicines costing ₹2,000–₹3,000/month, lifelong.

• A person recovering from kidney transplant cannot afford to skip post-operative medications — or the organ may fail.

When you’re earning ₹300 a day or less, these numbers mean choosing between survival and sustenance.

Real Voices from the Program

“I thought my cancer treatment had ended. But when I saw the prescription bill, I cried. That’s when someone told me about Shamanam.”

— Radha, breast cancer survivor, Vadakara

“My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The doctor gave us the prescription but didn’t ask if we could afford it. We couldn’t. For three months, he went untreated — until we found this place.”

— Suresh, daily wage worker, Feroke

“We thought our father would die without his heart medications. The monthly cost was more than our household income. Shamanam saved him — and us.”

— Fathima, caregiver, Malappuram

These are not isolated stories. They are the quiet crisis of thousands across the state — especially from rural pockets, tribal colonies, and urban slums.

The Kerala Paradox

Kerala has one of India’s best literacy rates and health indicators, but non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, heart disease, mental illness, and kidney failure are on the rise.

These are not just medical problems — they are economic catastrophes. For poor families, the real fight begins after diagnosis, when the burden of medication begins to mount month after month.

Shamanam exists to bridge this gap between diagnosis and dignity.

How Shamanam Helps

Every month, with the support of hundreds of donors, Shamanam:

• Distributes medicines to over 700 patients

• Spends nearly ₹7 lakhs/month purely on procurement

• Maintains confidentiality, compassion, and continuity of care

• Serves patients from across Malabar, from tribal settlements to city hospitals

Beyond the Tablets: What We See

Volunteers at Shamanam don’t just dispense medicines. They witness human emotion in raw form:

• The tears of relief when a caregiver gets meds worth ₹3,000 at no cost

• The embarrassment of a father who can’t afford to buy insulin for his daughter

• The dignity restored when patients are treated like humans — not charity cases

A Call to Remember

As a society, we often celebrate hospitals, doctors, and infrastructure. But let’s also celebrate those who quietly ensure medicines reach the poorest — on time, every time.

Because for someone in Kunnamangalam, Perambra, or Kallayi, a strip of tablets is not just a drug — it is a lifeline.

🙌 How You Can Help

• Sponsor a patient for a month – ₹2,500

• Adopt one chemotherapy case – ₹5,000/month

• Help us replenish the medicine bank for psychiatric cases

• Spread the word. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.

🔗 Become a Shamanam Donor

🔗 Volunteer with Us