Gurugram, April 24 -- For nearly five decades, Dr Kiran Kukreja, a general physician and gynaecologist, has practised medicine with quiet consistency. But about 20 years ago, she felt that treating patients within clinic walls was not enough; that her work needed to travel beyond prescriptions and into people's lives. That instinct led her to begin organising free medical camps, a commitment she has sustained ever since. Now 72, and based in Sector 54, Gurugram, Kukreja has taken her work far beyond the city. What began as small awareness sessions has grown into a wide outreach effort across Delhi-NCR and Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The early days, she recalls, were less about treatment and more about conversation. She spoke to communities in slum clusters and underserved areas about hygiene, nutrition and the basics of staying well. Over time, those conversations evolved into medical camps. With support from organisations such as the Indian Cancer Society and Roko Cancer, the camps began offering not just advice but also access to diagnostics, screenings and early intervention that many would otherwise go without. "We conduct these camps regularly. While they may not be held daily, we try to organise them on a weekly basis, prioritising requests from communities across Delhi-NCR. The services are completely free," she said. At these camps, patients are not turned away for lack of means. X-rays, blood tests, mammography, and screenings for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and anaemia are made available free of cost. Th camps double as spaces for awareness, especially around cancer, a subject Kukreja believes still carries fear and misinformation among people. "There are many who lack awareness about even basic hygiene. It becomes my responsibility as a doctor to educate them and spread awareness," she said. For Kukreja, the goal is not simply diagnosis or treatment, but understanding. She spends time explaining what a condition means, how it develops, and how practical steps can help prevent or manage it. Nutrition, early detection and everyday practices are recurring themes in her interactions. "My aim after every session is to ensure that people have understood what I have explained. For me, success lies in seeing them apply that knowledge in their daily lives," she said. In the course of her work, certain patterns have stood out. Malnutrition and anaemia, particularly among women, remain widespread, owing to a lack of basic awareness. "Creating awareness about nutrition, hygiene and preventive care is extremely important, as small changes can make a significant difference," Kukreja said. Even as participation in these camps has grown over the years - a sign, she says, of rising awareness - Kukreja is clear-eyed about the work that remains. Access to healthcare and reliable information is still uneven, and bridging that gap requires persistence. Through it all, her approach has remained steady; meet people where they are and leave them with something they can carry forward. Her work is driven by a simple conviction that informed communities are better equipped to take charge of their health, and that even small steps in education can lead to lasting improvements in public health outcomes....