SHAMANAM
Shamanam – Free medicine support program
Shamanam – Free medicine support program
The Shamanam- Free Medicine Program is one of the oldest and most impactful initiatives of Helping Hands Charitable Trust. Launched in 1994, it was built on the belief that access to essential medication should not be a privilege. For over 30 years, this program has provided life-sustaining medicines — completely free — to patients suffering from chronic and critical illnesses across Kerala.
The Shamanam- Free Medicine Program is one of the oldest and most impactful initiatives of Helping Hands Charitable Trust. Launched in 1994, it was built on the belief that access to essential medication should not be a privilege. For over 30 years, this program has provided life-sustaining medicines — completely free — to patients suffering from chronic and critical illnesses across Kerala.
UN SDG alignment
UN SDG alignment
Why we started
Why we started
The gap beyond the hospital
Public hospitals treat patients, but when they step outside — many can’t afford the prescription in hand.
The turning point
A mother halves her psychiatric medication to make it last.
A cancer patient delays chemo to buy groceries.
We saw that when medicine is unaffordable, illness becomes a life sentence.
The response: Shamanam
An initiative to protect health, uphold dignity, and ensure treatment doesn’t stop at the pharmacy door.
The gap beyond the hospital
Public hospitals treat patients, but when they step outside — many can’t afford the prescription in hand.
The turning point
A mother halves her psychiatric medication to make it last.
A cancer patient delays chemo to buy groceries.
We saw that when medicine is unaffordable, illness becomes a life sentence.
The response: Shamanam
An initiative to protect health, uphold dignity, and ensure treatment doesn’t stop at the pharmacy door.
“To ensure that no patient is denied treatment due to the cost of medicines — by providing free, regular, and reliable access to essential drugs for chronic and life-threatening illnesses.”
“To ensure that no patient is denied treatment due to the cost of medicines — by providing free, regular, and reliable access to essential drugs for chronic and life-threatening illnesses.”
“To ensure that no patient is denied treatment due to the cost of medicines — by providing free, regular, and reliable access to essential drugs for chronic and life-threatening illnesses.”
How it works
Patient identification
Referrals from hospitals, social workers, or prior beneficiaries
Assessment
Income and medical condition are verified by volunteers
Prescription & procurement
Medicines are sourced from verified distributors
Distribution
Monthly medication packs delivered or picked up from our center
Emergency cases addressed on demand
Monitoring
Regular follow-up to ensure adherence and updated needs
Our impact
Our impact
Sleep in unsafe and unhygienic conditions near hospitals
Sleep in unsafe and unhygienic conditions near hospitals
Sleep in unsafe and unhygienic conditions near hospitals
Suffer from loss of wages for both patients and caregivers
Suffer from loss of wages for both patients and caregivers
Suffer from loss of wages for both patients and caregivers
Face food insecurity and malnutrition during treatment
Face food insecurity and malnutrition during treatment
Face food insecurity and malnutrition during treatment
Lack access to clean water and sanitation facilities
Lack access to clean water and sanitation facilities
Lack access to clean water and sanitation facilities
How it works
Patient identification
Referrals from hospitals, social workers, or prior beneficiaries
Assessment
Income and medical condition are verified by volunteers
Prescription & procurement
Medicines are sourced from verified distributors
Distribution
Monthly medication packs delivered or picked up from our center
Emergency cases addressed on demand
Monitoring
Regular follow-up to ensure adherence and updated needs
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
“My cancer meds cost more than I earned in a month. Helping Hands saved me — not just with medicine, but with kindness.”
Shantha
Kozhikode
“I’ve been collecting my son’s psychiatric medicines here for 4 years. We couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Sreekumar
Father
Gallery
Gallery
Lastest blog posts
Lastest blog posts
The economics of survival: Healthcare for the marginalized
The economics of survival: Healthcare for the marginalized
Behind every pill: The quiet impact of shamanam
Behind every pill: The quiet impact of shamanam
The volunteers behind shamanam: Quiet hands, lasting impact
The volunteers behind shamanam: Quiet hands, lasting impact
When medicines become a lifeline: Stories from the ground
When medicines become a lifeline: Stories from the ground
Monthly support overview (3-year summary)
Monthly support overview (3-year summary)
2022
620 Patients
₹78,00,000
2023
690 Patients
₹86,00,000
2024
710+ (Ongoing)
₹90,00,000+ est.
How it works
Patient identification
Referrals from hospitals, social workers, or prior beneficiaries
Assessment
Income and medical condition are verified by volunteers
Prescription & procurement
Medicines are sourced from verified distributors
Distribution
Monthly medication packs delivered or picked up from our center
Emergency cases addressed on demand
Monitoring
Regular follow-up to ensure adherence and updated needs
Special campaigns
Special campaigns
Current drive
Cover full-year medicine for 100 cancer patients
BiPAP Machines for Neurology Patients – ₹3,00,000
Mobility aid refurbishment drive – ₹1,50,000
Who can apply?
Neuro medications for 30 patients – ₹3,00,000
Transplant medication emergency fund - ₹5,00,000
Apply for Support
Apply for Support
Who can apply?
Poor patients with verified chronic illness
Requires prescription and income certificate
Required details
Doctor’s letter and prescription
Photo ID and income proof
Contact and treatment center details
Why it matters
Why it matters
For many families, free medicine means the difference between treatment and abandonment. We don’t just give out tablets — we give people a chance to live, love, and recover with dignity.
Get involved
Get involved
Support a patient’s monthly medication
Support a patient’s monthly medication
Mental health medications
₹1,000
Neurology support
₹2,000
Cardiac prescriptions
₹2,500
Kidney transplant follow-ups
₹4,800
Chemotherapy meds
₹5,000
Kidney transplant follow-ups
₹25,000
Other ways to help
Sponsor an entire year for one patient
Contribute to emergency medicine pool
Volunteer for assessment and distribution
Special campaigns
Current drive
Cover full-year medicine for 100 cancer patients
BiPAP Machines for Neurology Patients – ₹3,00,000
Mobility aid refurbishment drive – ₹1,50,000
Who can apply?
Neuro medications for 30 patients – ₹3,00,000
Transplant medication emergency fund - ₹5,00,000
Apply for Support
Who can apply?
Poor patients with verified chronic illness
Requires prescription and income certificate
Required details
Doctor’s letter and prescription
Photo ID and income proof
Contact and treatment center details
Why it matters
For many families, free medicine means the difference between treatment and abandonment. We don’t just give out tablets — we give people a chance to live, love, and recover with dignity.
Get involved
Support a patient’s monthly medication
Mental health medications
₹1,000
Neurology support
₹2,000
Cardiac prescriptions
₹2,500
Kidney transplant follow-ups
₹4,800
Chemotherapy meds
₹5,000
Kidney transplant follow-ups
₹25,000
Other ways to help
Sponsor an entire year for one patient
Contribute to emergency medicine pool
Volunteer for assessment and distribution
