National Doctor's Day: Bringing hope to advanced HIV patients in Patna - Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF)/Doctors Without Borders

Patna, India- Every day in the Garima ki Kiran, advance HIV clinic at Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in Patna, Dr Rajesh Durairaj witnesses both struggle and triumph. As we mark National Doctors ‘ Day, his story offers a window into the critical work Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides for some of Bihar’s most vulnerable patients.

I've always believed that health is a right for all—regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or geography.

Dr Rajesh

MSF Doctor at the Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in Patna

Since joining MSF in 2021 during the COVID–19 pandemic, Dr Rajesh has been working with people living with HIV.

Navigating Cultural Barriers to Care

Working in Patna has given Dr Rajesh unique insight into how cultural dynamics shape healthcare access and delivery.

“Cultural dynamics affect every aspect of care—from consent and decision–making to how patients express symptoms or engage with treatment,” he explains. “In Patna, decisions are often made by male or distant family members, especially in emergencies. This can delay critical interventions.”

For people living with advanced HIV, these delays can be life–threatening. The MSF team addresses these challenges through dedicated patient support and mental health services, helping build trust and explaining medical decisions in culturally sensitive ways.

The Human Face of Advanced HIV Care

While medical statistics tell one story, Dr Rajesh emphasizes that it’s the individual patient journeys that reveal the true impact of MSF’s work.

One of his most challenging cases involved a pregnant woman with severe PCP pneumonia. “She was critically unwell—gasping for breath—and we were deeply concerned for both her and the unborn child,” he recalls. The team worked tirelessly and managed to save her life, though tragically, not her baby’s.

“It was heartbreaking, but we were thankful her other children didn’t lose their mother,” Dr Rajesh says. “Working in an advanced HIV unit, we often witness how patients—especially women—bear the compounded burden of illness, stigma, and lack of access to timely care.”

Moments That Sustain Hope

Despite the challenges, Dr Rajesh finds hope in the recovery stories that emerge from the unit. He vividly remembers a five–year–old boy who arrived severely underweight and experiencing continuous seizures.

“We tried everything to stabilise him, and eventually, he recovered. A year later, I saw him again—healthy, unrecognisable, and on his way to school! It was one of the most joyful moments of my career.”

These moments sustain Dr Rajesh through difficult days. “It’s the patients who keep me going. Every person is someone’s parent, child, or sibling. When I treat a patient, I’m also supporting a whole family.”

Looking Forward

For Dr Rajesh, the work goes beyond medical intervention. “Often, advocating for patients who can’t advocate for themselves is just as important as the clinical care we provide,” he reflects. “That’s something I take seriously and will continue to do throughout my career.”

As we celebrate National Doctor’s Day, stories like Dr Rajesh’s highlight the critical difference medical professionals make in communities facing healthcare challenges and remind us that behind every medical intervention is a human story of compassion, resilience, and hope.

MSF in Patna, Bihar

MSF offers a lifesaving, holistic advanced HIV care package to an extremely vulnerable and highly stigmatized group of advanced HIV patients who have limited treatment options and a high mortality rate. Working in collaboration with the Bihar State Health Mission and Bihar State Department of Health and Family Welfare, MSF offers care to these patients Garima ki Kiran Clinic at Guru Gobind Singh Hospital (GGSH) in Patna, Bihar.