A DROP in donors while the prices of traditional Chinese medicine continue to rise has put a heavy strain on the ability of charities to help the poor who are sick.

Chinese traditional medicine prices are reported to have risen about 20% since the start of the year.

Yong Wee Seong, who heads the medical assistance department of the Malaysian Chinese Medical Association, said the organisation spent more than RM130,000 on traditional Chinese medicine for the poor in 2021 and nearly double that last year.

He said the rising costs of traditional medicine have also caused more people to turn to the association for help.

“It has not only affected the operation of our clinics, but we are seeing more people coming to us for assistance.”

Meanwhile, Yong said donations have dropped 40%.

“We are struggling to help.”

Yong said MCMA cannot afford to give a patient more than two days’ worth of medicine for now.

“The only exceptions are when the patient lives far away or has transport problems getting to us.”

Founded in 1954, the MCMA’s Chinese medical assistance department  in Kuala Lumpur, is a charitable organisation that serves the poor and needy of all races.

To continue its charity drive in the current environment, Yong said MCMA is considering setting up a “specialist clinic” with physicians in attendance two or three days a week.

He said the clinic would charge half the usual consultation fees.

The fees would fund charity the MCMA’s free clinics.

Yong said although the free clinics get donations and grants, he hoped the government could help out.

“It is increasingly difficult to do charity as costs increase.”

Yong urged doctors to volunteer to contribute their time.

“The people we help are not Chinese only. We help people of all races.”

Yong said the MCMA’s free clinics are indirectly reducing the strain on the public healthcare system.

Downsizing

The Federation of Chinese Physicians and Acupuncturist Associations Malaysia (FCPAAM) is able to continue to help the needy with acupuncture, cupping and other traditional Chinese treatments, said its president Ng Po Kok.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the FCPAAM held a free clinic once a week.

Now the clinic is an “occasional” event and operating out of a van.

Ng said the mobile clinic makes visits selected orphanages and charitable organisations.

This is because the FCPAAM has reduced its fund-raising activities, he said.

As funds are in short supply, he said the FCPAAM is handing out less free medicine and writing more prescriptions for the patient to buy.

“For example, if we used to hand out give a week’s worth of medicine, we are now giving out only three days’ worth,” Ng said.

Chinese Pharmaceutical Association of Xuelong president Luo Jinfeng told The Malaysian Insight that the scarcity of ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine had caused prices to soar. – May 19, 2023.