Free dental, medical camps bring care to underserved Pakistan communities

ISLAMABAD: For communities where financial constraints or limited access can make quality healthcare difficult to obtain, a series of free medical and dental camps during Pakistan’s Independence Month brought doctors and essential healthcare services directly to those in need. Organised by The Volunteers Society (TVS), the initiative brought together 37 doctors and healthcare professionals who volunteered their services across medicine, dentistry, psychology, nutrition and physiotherapy. Led by TVS Founder Mr. Mehar Shehryar and Dr. Simeen Asif, Medical Chapter Head of The Volunteers Society and a BDS graduate of Islamabad Medical & Dental College, the initiative was conducted over three consecutive weekends on August 9, 16 and 23, 2026. The camps reached communities in Rawalpindi, children living at Safa Sweet Home Orphanage and Bhatagram in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with patient attendance running into hundreds. Free healthcare reaches more than 500 patients in Rawalpindi The initiative began with the organisation’s 13th Free Medical Camp on August 9 at Kurri Road, Rawalpindi. The camp offered comprehensive medical and dental services to members of the local community and recorded more than 500 outpatient consultations (OPDs). Doctors and healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines participated, allowing patients to seek advice and care beyond a single area of healthcare. But the next camp shifted the focus from a wider community to a particularly vulnerable group — children living in an orphanage. 80 children receive dental treatment at orphanage The 14th Free Medical Camp was held on August 16 at Safa Sweet Home Orphanage, where healthcare professionals provided services focused on the health and wellbeing of children residing there. Dental treatment was provided to 80 children, while the camp also addressed their mental health and broader healthcare needs. The inclusion of dental care and mental health support underscored the initiative’s multidisciplinary approach, particularly for children who may have limited access to regular preventive and clinical healthcare. The camps also aimed to leave participants with support that extended beyond the consultation itself. Free medicines and dental hygiene kits add to impact Patients attending the camps were provided with free medicines and dental hygiene kits, helping address immediate healthcare needs while promoting healthier habits after the camps. The dental hygiene component also complemented the clinical services by encouraging participants to pay greater attention to preventive oral healthcare. For communities facing financial barriers, combining free consultations with medicines and basic oral hygiene support can make the benefits of a healthcare camp more practical and accessible. The largest patient turnout of the initiative, however, came at its final stop. More than 750 OPDs recorded in Bhatagram On August 23, The Volunteers Society conducted its 15th Free Medical Camp in Bhatagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taking multidisciplinary healthcare services to an underserved community. The camp recorded more than 750 OPDs, making it the busiest of the three camps in terms of patient attendance. The Bhatagram camp brought together healthcare professionals from the initiative’s participating disciplines, giving residents access to medical, dental and other supportive healthcare services without the usual financial burden of consultation. Turning Independence Month into community service The three-week initiative reflected a broader interpretation of Independence Month — one centred not only on celebration but also on service, compassion and community welfare. Through the camps, The Volunteers Society sought to reach people who can face financial, geographic or other barriers when seeking healthcare, while encouraging healthcare professionals to contribute their expertise to communities outside conventional clinical settings. The initiative also demonstrated how volunteer-led healthcare programmes can bring together professionals from different disciplines to address medical, oral health, mental health, nutritional and physical wellbeing needs under one umbrella. For The Volunteers Society, the message behind its Independence Month campaign extended beyond ceremonies and festivities. Independence, the organisation believes, is also about the responsibility to serve, empower and give back to society. Stay connected with Dental News Pakistan pk/28-Aug-2026/free-medical-dental-camps-underserved-pakistan-communities” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener noreferrer”>Read full story on Dental News