2011.11.13.

New Seruice Open: Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic

Written by: Lee Tsai-Sia, Kuo Jin-Yi, Liu He-Leni

Starting November 13, 2011, the Tzu Chi Free Clinic in Redhill, Singapore has increased its once-a-week service to six days a week, providing traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture services to the community residents.

Caring for the Growing Older Adult Population

With the older adult population rapidly increasing in Singapore, the number of seniors over 65 years old has increased from 6% in 1990 to 9.3% in 2011. In the central Redhill area, seniors make up of approximately 14% of the population, resulting in a critical need for a comprehensive healthcare system to help reduce the community’s burden.

The Tzu-Chi Free Clinic has been serving seniors and low-income families for years, offering both western and Chinese medicine, as well as dental services. However, because the oncea-week clinic can no longer meet the need, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic has increased its service to 6 days a week (Monday through Friday, and Sunday, except holidays) to fully utilize the open and comfortable space of the clinic. The community board members even help promote the Free Clinic by sending out flyers and banners to encourage residents to take full advantage of this unique facility and its helpful healthcare services.

After a few rehearsals, the occupied Tzu Chi medical staff presents the “World of Blessing” performance, spreading love and happiness to everyone. Photographer/Pan Bo-Tong.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic has gained popularity through the Tzu Chi medical staff’s hard work, as well as support from the local community. Since its trial period in mid-October, there have been about twenty patients a day, totaling 517 patient visits thus far.

Chan Chun-Chuan, Mayor of the Central Singapore Community Council and the Political Vice Minister for Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and Ministry of State, stands in front of the podium to express his appreciation for Tzu Chi’s contribution to establish better healthcare for the community. Photographer/Pan Bo-Tong.

Enthusiastic Community Response After Three Years of Opening

November 13rd, 12:30pm, the all-day Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic is formally open to the public, unconditionally free for service.

The short, warm opening ceremony started with a sign language performance of “World of Blessing”, followed by a speech by the Vice Executive of the Singapore Tzu Chi Foundation, Chiu Chian-Yi, who expressed his appreciation to Mayor Chan Chun-Chuan and the community staff for their years of support, serving forty to fifty patients at this oncea-week free clinic. With this expansion to full service, the Free Clinic is expected to become more comprehensive. It now encompasses a traditional Chinese medicine team led by a full-time doctor, Dr. Lai Sian-Wei, and eight Chinese medicine doctors, pharmacists, and volunteers, involving about 75 volunteers each week.

Mayor Chan Chun - Chuan remembered when Tzu Chi Free Clinic first moved from Niu Che Shui (Chinatown) to Redhill, he frequently heard the senior residents praise Tzu Chi’s healthcare services. Tzu Chi volunteers also set up recycling stations around the neighborhood to promote recycling and environmental conservation. Mayor Chan appreciated Tzu Chi’s dedicatory spirit and was proud to be part of the effort to help establish the Tzu Chi Free Clinic in the community.

Mayor Chan described the Tzu Chi Free Clinic as a seed germinating after years of nurturing, finally growing into a tree that provides shade for the land below it. “This is just one example. Not only the Free Clinic, but everything we do is like spreading seeds for good deeds, hoping to provide more shade for kindness and hope.” The performance by Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) “Let the Love Spread” echoed the wishes of Mayor Chan. “Love is to give a little more everyday…. It’s like sunshine bringing warmth to us. No matter how far it is, it will get there one day. “

The diabetic patient, Ms. Fong Mei-Wong (middle), comes to the clinic once every week. She praises Dr. Lai’s enthusiasm and patience in explaining the diet requirement. Photographer/Leung Chia-Hou.

Mutual Love and Care Between Doctors and Patients

“Is it really free?” Ninety-four yearold grandma Wu asked over and over again, worried that she cannot afford the acupuncture treatment. The old lady hobbled with her back severely bent.

Grandma Wu said that the pain in her feet had started a day ago and that pain relievers were not helpful. She came to the clinic using her shopping cart as a temporary walking aid. Dr. Lai took her pulse, which seemed to be normal. He suspected that her blood uric acid may be too high, and tried to relieve her pain through acupuncture and massaging her knees.

The old man felt relieved after hearing Dr. Lai’s kind greeting and his familiar Cantonese accent. Dr. Lai, who is originally from Hong Kong, especially cares about patient interaction. When he was a volunteer doctor at a different free clinic, he felt like an automatic machine, with too many patients and too little time to interact with them. He whole-heartedly agrees with the humane healthcare service at Tzu Chi. He believes patient care should not only treat physical conditions, but it should also bring love and care to the patients.

Seeing a patient usually takes about 15 minutes, while acupuncture takes about half an hour. Dr. Lai indicated that if extra time is needed, he will stamp a note stating “SUPPORT” on the patient’s record. This way, the volunteer on duty will continue the relay of care to meet the patient’s need.

The traditional Chinese medicine consultation is opened during the opening ceremony, providing healthcare for over 100 residents. Photographer/Pan Bo-Tong.

Ms. Fong Mei-Wong, a diabetic patient, visits the clinic once every week. She praised Dr. Lai’s enthusiasm and patience in explaining the diet requirement. “Dr. Lai is like a friend with whom you could share your feelings. In addition, the volunteers are friendly and kind.” After months of treatment, she could now climb up stairs without feeling out of breath. To express her appreciation, Ms. Fong wanted to give Dr. Lai the precious Year-of-the-Dragon gold and silver coins that she received from her godfather.

Seventy-five year-old Lok Ming Shua is a licensed herbal medicine pharmacist at the Free Clinic. As a life-long learner, he finds an opportunity here to help those who are suffering. Photographer/Lee Kwan-Chan.

In an atmosphere of mutual trust and appreciation, it is not only the residents, but also the medical staff who are willing to make the effort to come to the Free Clinic. A trained herbal medicine pharmacist, Lok Ming-Shua, heard about the Chinese Medicine Free Clinic in Redhill from a friend in massage therapy. He was happy to find out that it was established by Tzu Chi, where he is also a member. Mr. Lok was poor and had been treated for migraines for years. He understood the importance of medical service for low-income families. Not until he was 64 years old, after his children grew up and his financial situation got better, did he start pursuing his interest in traditional Chinese medicine and taking therapeutic massage and herbal medicine classes. He also found opportunities at the Tzu Chi Free Clinic to help. He is now 75 years old and still comes to the Free Clinic twice a week. If it were not for his computer class, he would come every day.

Malaysian labor worker, Sha Filqul, suffers from chronic pain but could not afford healthcare. He felt relieved after caring consultation with the Chinese medicine doctor. Photographer/Leung Chia-Hou.

Giving Back to the Community, Caring for the Wellbeing

On the day of the opening ceremony, the Chinese medicine service team provided consultation for over eighty residents to reciprocate to the community. Chinese medicine is considered a gentle and holistic way of improving a person’s health by adjusting the body from the root of the problem. It is known to have fewer side effects and has gained popularity worldwide. In Chinese culture, traditional herbal medicine is also more trusted among the elderly and parents. Mrs. Chan Ying-Ying brought her two daughters to the Free Clinic all the way from Choa Chu Kang. Mrs. Chan thinks Chinese medicine is milder and less harmful to the body. In addition, through Chinese medicine, her kids’ conditions had gradually improved and their general health had gotten better as well.

After the opening ceremony, Mayor Chan Chun-Chiun (6th from the right), the council chair, Lin Huan-Chang (4th from the right), and Tzu Chi volunteers take a photo of this historical moment. Photographer/ Hsu Jin-Sheng.

Twenty-year-old Malaysian labor worker, Sha Filqul, came to Singapore about two years ago. He suffered from chronic neck pain but never visited a doctor. The basic scanning and examination would cost more than $100 Singapore Dollars, which was too expensive for him with a monthly salary at $650 SGD (approximately $530 US Dollars). He first consulted with a physician in the department of western medicine, who referred him to the department of Chinese medicine, believing that Chinese medicine is more appropriate considering his symptoms. Upon hearing that along-term acupuncture treatment could alleviate his occupational injuries, Sha Filqul finally smiled in relief.

Since its opening in August, 2004 in Singapore’s Chinatown and then the move to Redhill in November 2008, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Free Clinic has followed the philosophy of Master Cheng Yen, “care for life, people first,” to spread love and help to the poor and the sick. Now the Traditional Chinese Medicine Free Clinic brings love to everyone in the community regardless of race and religion.