Madanapalle has a long and chequered history of medical care and medical institutions initiated by the Missionaries. In fact as early as 1863 an informal dispensary was opened by a missionary, Dr. Jacob Chamberlain, on the veranda of his bungalow in the mission compound. People from the neighbouring villages used to flock to this dispensary and Dr. Chamberlain was known to have offered medical aid
every morning on the days he stayed in the town. On the days he toured the villages around Madanapalle on a bullock cart, his little bag of equipment was known to travel with him constantly. As the burden of medical relief became too heavy to bear, Dr. Chamberlain turned to the government with a request that it establish a hospital in the town. Smith sanctioned a dispensary for Madanapalle. Dr. Ward, a military doctor was appointed to the dispensary and he served it with great dedication for over a quarter of a century. Hospital for women and kids:Dr. Chamberlain was keen that a hospital in Madanapalle be started particularly for women and children with a doctor of its own. Rajamanikyam, who was working as a headmistress of a Mission School in Madurai was specially brought to Madanapalle for one year's preliminary training under Dr. Chamberlain. She was then sent to Madras Medical College to get qualified as a regular Doctor. Having finished her course in 1894, Rajamanikyam came back to Madanapalle and at once occupied herself serving the women and children. Her services however were terminated tragically for, while treating the plague patients during the epidemic of 1904, which took a toll of 186 lives in Madanapalle alone, she herself was afflicted with the disease and died. Dr. Rajamanikyam like Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy of Madras, was one of the early women doctors to serve in the Madras Presidency.
