Not just the poor
Simple facilities, simple examination tools and common medicine but trusted by thousands of patients - that is our feeling when coming to the Dong Thap Provincial Humanitarian Clinic (located in Cao Lanh City) before Vietnam Doctors' Day February 27.
Here, doctors, pharmacists and volunteers participate in non-commercial work, and treatment drugs are mostly produced by domestic facilities. The clinic operates every Saturday morning and has become a "red address" for patients in and outside Cao Lanh City for the past 25 years.
The Director of Dong Thap Department of Health expressed to us: "It is really necessary! There must be a place where patients, especially the poor, have the right to express their medical conditions but are not afraid of funding, receive dedicated health care and above all, receive love".
Mr. Buu added that in addition to going to the doctor, people are also served refreshments, drinking free soy milk, and distributing used clothes... coordinated by local philanthropists. On major holidays of the year, holidays... the clinic is also organized by benefactors to give gifts to people. With this motto, on average, this place receives over 200 patients per session, sometimes up to over 300 - 400 visits.
In particular, not only patients in difficult circumstances, but also those who are well-off and have medical examination books under health insurance also come to the clinic for treatment.
"We have received many things that other medical facilities cannot provide. That is a group of doctors with seniority in the profession, rich experience participating in examination, prescription... doctors also advise manyotherapy drugs to help improve mood" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Thai (Cao Lanh City) shared with reporters.
Retired people are also "worked"
Among the pharmaceutical students who are busy preparing medicine for patients at the clinic, Ms. Phan Ngoc Bich Tram (Dong Thap Medical College) evokes for us the most emotions about a generation of young doctors who are dedicated and kind to the people. To be able to spend 5 minutes talking to us, she asked a colleague for work support and "permitted" the people to wait a little time.
"I learned those things from my predecessors at the clinic, to serve patients with all my heart. In recent months, instead of spending Saturdays to rest, I want to come here to contribute, both to help people stay healthy and to motivate me to work" - Ms. Tram said.
Doctor Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran (Dong Thap Provincial Center for Disease Control) shares the same view: "Professional fire is one of the top requirements that a doctor must always nurture. We encourage each other and consider this place as a home for medical ethics training".
We ended the working session when the medical examination and treatment atmosphere at the Dong Thap Provincial Humanities Clinic was still bustling with people coming and going, not because the reporter had completed the task but because he felt the energy of generations of doctors here.
At that time, deep in the corner of the room, Doctor Pham Thi Thum - former Chairwoman of the Dong Thap Provincial Health Trade Union - still secretly asked about the health of an old man and her words: "We are so happy to serve the people" were still imprinted in our minds.
Here is an image of the clinic:
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