#GoodNews: An 86-Yr-Old UK Doctor Treats Poor For Free in Kolkata

At times, Jack Preger treated around 500 patients in one go and even gave money to a few of them to get back home.

The Quint
India
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Dr Jack Preger (left) with a friend. (Photo Courtesy: <a href="http://www.jackpreger.com/">www.jackpreger.com</a>)
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Dr Jack Preger (left) with a friend. (Photo Courtesy: www.jackpreger.com)
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Post 60 years of age, what does an individual look forward to after working incessantly over the years to keep life going? A life without arduous commitments or stress because that is what defined you during all those years.

But not for 86-year-old Jack Preger who decided to swim through uncharted territories after he decided to become a doctor in his 40s.

Prior to this “inner urge”, Preger was occupied with work on his farm in Wales, UK, reported The Hindu.

He now resides in Kolkata treating the poor for free with the help of his team.

Preger was deported from Bangladesh after the 1971 liberation war where he was a medical volunteer. He then came to Kolkata and joined Mother Teresa's Missionaries for Charity. After his stint there, he began running free makeshift roadside clinics in Central Kolkata six days a week.

At times, he treated around 500 patients in one go and even provided money to a few of them to get back home.

After running into trouble with the local goons, getting jailed and with a court case on his head which went on for eight and a half years, nothing beats his indomitable spirit.

He went on to get his NGO 'Calcutta Rescue' registered and has a number of free clinics running across the city. He also runs a handicraft and a weaving centre.

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