When Dr Paulo de Valdoleiros opened a “pay-what-you-can” clinic, the world took notice. Six years later, he’s still showing us what real care looks like.
South Africa (09 July 2025) – In 2019, we shared the remarkable story of Dr Paulo de Valdoleiros, a doctor in Bloemfontein who opened a medical practice like no other. One where there were no consultation fees, no price tags and no judgement… just kindness, compassion and the belief that healthcare should be accessible to everyone, no matter their financial situation.
Our article went viral back then… because how could it not? A qualified doctor offering medical care on a “pay-what-you-can” basis? It touched a nerve. It gave people hope. It reminded us of what it means to care for one another.
And now, six years later, it’s happening again. The story is being reshared on social media, and we’ve been getting messages asking, “Where is Dr Paulo now?” So, we thought it was time for a little update.
Dr Paulo now lives in Cape Town, where he specialises part-time in treating people struggling with their hormones. He closed his practice in Bloem shortly after COVID-19 started. Due to his specialisation, he doesn’t offer the pay-what-you-can service anymore.
Since moving to Cape Town, Dr Paulo has started painting and turning those paintings into fabric which is used to make bespoke clothing.
The Doctor Who Chose People Over Profits
When we first met Dr Paulo, he had just opened a small practice in Bloemfontein. He’d graduated as a doctor at 51, already an incredible story, and then did something even more radical: he launched a walk-in clinic where patients could pay whatever they could afford, even if that was R10… or nothing at all.
It was based entirely on trust.
“Basically, the concept was I can take care of anybody — you pay what you can afford. So, I see the patient; I examine if necessary. We give out basic medication, and by basic medication, I mean the type of medicine that has been around for about 40 years, so it is relatively cheap. So a little session of antibiotics costs us around R20 to R25.
We don’t charge for any of this. I see the patient; I give them medication if necessary. You then go to the reception, and you decide your fee. The staff are trained not to tell you what it is or what it isn’t because we don’t have a set fee. It’s what you decide, what you can afford — it’s between you and your conscience.
In a sense, I’m getting people to make decisions they have never had to make. I feel that just because you don’t have money shouldn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to see a doctor,” he said in a telephonic interview with Gateway News.
“I believe that medicine is my calling… We all chase money, but I’m tired of chasing money,” he told us back then. “I just want to do what I like to do, and that is help people.”
That honesty? That kind of heart? South Africa showed up. People donated to keep the clinic going. Samy Bala, an Uber driver from Cape Town, was so moved that he started a crowdfunding campaign to help pay the rent.
And here’s the good news: Dr Paulo never gave up. Not for a moment.
According to his website, the Doc has continued to run a functional medicine practice, focusing on personalised healthcare. It also seems a huge focus is on sharing his skills and knowledge in the television space. Dr Paulo appears regularly on DSTV’s Real Health show, where he shares tips on wellness, mental health and preventative care. His voice has become one of advocacy, reminding people that your body matters, and that you deserve to be treated with care and kindness.
So yes, Dr Paulo is still around. Still doing good things. Still making us proud. And still proving that even in the most complex systems, like healthcare, there’s room for empathy, for innovation and for human kindness.
If you were one of the people who reshared our article recently… thank you. You reminded us why we do what we do. And you reminded the world that there are people like Dr Paulo out there, quietly making a difference, one heartbeat at a time.
by 
Unfortunately, he is no longer practicing medicine.