Surat: A German traveller, David Nebel, expressed surprise after receiving free rabies treatment at a Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) health centre following a street dog bite in the Vesu area. The videos of his experience have drawn widespread attention online, highlighting differences in India’s accessible public healthcare system.

The incident came to light after Nebel shared a video on social media detailing the treatment process. He said, “Last night I got bitten by a street dog. I had to take some precautions for rabies. So, I went to a government hospital here in India, and I was quite surprised. I got the treatment for free.”

Nebel noted that the entire process was quick and efficiently managed. “I need to get four injections, which is a bit annoying. But still, I was really surprised at how quick and clean the service was. Yeah, it’s pretty dope,” he said.

Reflecting on healthcare access in his home country, he added, “I’m really positively surprised. Back home, foreigners would not get treated for free in a hospital. So that’s impressive.”

The video quickly went viral, sparking discussions among social media users, many of whom pointed to India’s reputation for affordable healthcare services. Some users also highlighted the importance of visiting government hospitals in cases of animal bites, while others compared treatment costs in countries like the United States.

Furthermore, several users acknowledged that while the city faces issues related to stray dogs, its municipal health services have demonstrated a commendable standard.

The prompt and free treatment provided to the tourist has also helped enhance the image of the Surat Municipal Corporation at the international level. DeshGujarat