On any given day, the city of Tirupati's Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Science (SVIMS) hospital is teeming with patients and their families seeking essential medical care. Many travel great distances from the poorest regions of Andhra Pradesh, India, for treatment and the financial assistance offered by the Pranadana payment scheme. Tirupati, the "Spiritual Capital of Andhra Pradesh," has drawn pilgrims for hundreds of years. The medical institute has built a strong following too, especially among the underserved poor of Andhra Pradesh.