Medicine> Tzu Chi Free Clinic
 
 
 

Tzu Chi Free Clinic (Singapore)

   

Introduction

With the humanitarian goal of protecting lives, Singapore Tzu Chi Free Clinic was inaugurated by the Health Minister, Mr. Khaw Boon Wan on 1 August 2004 at the old branch office in Chinatown, thus opening a new chapter in the Mission of Medicine of Tzu Chi Singapore Branch.

Following the return of the Chinatown premises to its original owner in late 2007, the Free Clinic had to cease its service temporary. However, with the sick and poor constantly on their minds, Tzu Chi volunteers began searching for a new location to house the Free Clinic. In the meantime, they actively collaborated with local community groups in holding free health screenings for the public. After a year of searching, with the support from the Ministry of Health, the MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Mr Tan Chin Siong, and the grassroots leaders of Radin Mas community, the Free Clinic was successfully relocated to Redhill. It will serve the many low income and elderly residents there.

The relocation opening ceremony held on 1 November 2008 marked a new milestone in the Mission of Medicine for Tzu Chi Singapore. Apart from providing better medical care for Tzu Chi’s very own beneficiaries, the Redhill Tzu Chi Free Clinic also serves to safeguard the health of the sick and needy living in the neighborhood. In addition to providing medical consultations on the weekends, community health screening is provided at no cost every Monday through Friday.

Besides the dedicated medical personnel, Tzu Chi volunteers are on duty at the clinic to care for and comfort the patients who visit the clinic to let them feel being loved and respected. One of the aims of establishing the Free Clinic is to provide local medical practitioners with the opportunity to serve the less privileged members of the community and experience the joy of unconditional giving. In doing so, the clinic hopes to foster a more personal and humane approach to medicine within the medical community in Singapore.

Clinic Structure

The clinic is equipped with:

  1. Two medical consulting rooms
  2. A health screening room
  3. Two TCM consulting rooms
  4. A dental consulting room (with two dental units)
  5. An X-ray room (with an X-ray unit for oral cavity)
  6. A sterilization room
  7. A treatment room
  8. Reception & Registration area
  9. Pharmacy & Dispensary
  10. Waiting area
  11. Admin office
  12. Meeting room

 Patient’s Eligibility

  1. Public Assistance Card holder above the age of 60 who live alone, with no next of kin.
  2. Individuals above the age of 18 with monthly household income of less than SGD1500
  3. Individuals under the long term care of Tzu Chi Singapore Branch, i.e. recipients of Tzu Chi Foundation’s Dialysis Assistance Programme (TCFDAP), monetary assistance, medical relief assistance, and befriender service (Immediate family members living within the same household are also eligible.)
  4. Foreign workers (except domestic workers) with
    • Monthly income less than SGD800
    • Singapore Work Permit (Patient is required to produce his/her work permit and monthly pay slips during registration.）
**Assessment will be done on patient’s eligibility for dentures.

Services

- Medical services and dental services
- Traditional Chinese medical services
- Free Health Screening (Open to Public)

Free Health Screening includes
1)Basic Monitoring: Blood Pressure, Heart Rate & Pulse
2) Urine Test
3) Body Mass Index: BMI
4) Blood Test: Glucose, Cholesterol, Urea Creatinine etc
5) Electrocardiogram: ECG

*For optimum result, patient is required to fast for at least 8 hours before coming for the appointment.

Operating Hours

Free Health Screening
Every Monday to Friday: 10am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 5pm

Health Screening Report Review by Doctor
Every Saturday:2pm – 5pm

Medical Consultation
Every Sunday, from 9am – 12noon (TCM, Medical & Dental Services)

Appointment
 Monday to Saturday from 9.00am – 6.00pm

Contact Details

Address: Blk 90, Redhill Close, #01-400, Singapore 150090.
Tel.: 64758812
Fax: 64758718
E-mail: freeclinic@tzuchi.org.sg

A red cloth unveiled the new Tzu Chi Free Clinic, marking a fresh chapter in Tzu Chi Singapore's medical mission. The delightful moment was witnessed by various guests-of-honour including Mr Tan Chin Siong, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Mr Benjamin Ho, Deputy Representative from the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore, Professor Patrick Tseng, Chief Dental Officer for Ministry of Health, and Venerable De Yuan, abbess of the Bao Guang Temple.


 

  

Tzu Chi Singapore’s Free Clinic at its old premise at Chinatown.

Numerous meetings were held before the opening ceremony. Briefing on volunteer rules and regulations was also conducted to make sure the clinic runs smooth when it starts operating.  

The clinic’s dental room is equipped with an OPG unit (X-ray unit for oral cavity).  

Health screenings on the day of Opening: While doing health check for the senior residents, the nurses also advise the elderly to eat healthily and exercise regularly.

Five times bigger, the Redhill Tzu Chi Free Clinic now offers a much wider range of healthcare services and hopes to benefit a wider group of people, including low-income foreign workers.

Stepping into the clinic, the patients are welcomed by the warm smiles of volunteers who serve them with drinks and snacks. These volunteers are the “software” of the Free Clinic, playing the role of listener and provider of love and comfort.