During the trial operation period, the college students of Sunshine Love Clinic were with the migrant workers receiving physical examinations. The second from the left is Xue Kan, one of the initiators.
"The launch of this clinic moved me deeply. It represents a kind of pursuit for self-growth by the students of Peking University Health Science Center. We have a high probability of cultivating skilled elites, but to cultivate students into influential social elites still requires our continuous efforts. Like the love clinic, it's very effective to contact society through grassroots medical care. Moreover, it's closest to the essence of the medical profession itself, truly achieving multiple benefits at once."
— Yang Ke, Executive Vice President of Peking University and Standing Deputy Director of the Health Science Center
Report by journalists Dina Di and Wang Shen: Yesterday, the "Sunshine Love Clinic" of Peking University Health Science Center, the first in China run and managed by students, was officially launched. The clinic will provide free diagnosis and treatment services and medicines to populations without medical insurance, such as migrant workers.
The Sunshine Love Clinic is located at the hospital of Peking University Health Science Center and is a "free clinic" operated by students. Jiang Xiaoxiao, one of the initiators and a 2006-level student in Basic Medicine Department of Peking University Health Science Center, introduced that the "Sunshine Love Clinic" of Peking University Health Science Center is based on the basic model of "student-operated free clinics" in the United States, which are run and managed by medical students, with voluntary participation from doctors and medical students, providing free diagnoses to low-income urban groups.
Jiang Xiaoxiao introduced that patients need to meet certain conditions to become the target group of the love clinic, including: not enjoying any medical insurance in Beijing; income below 1150 yuan/month; and finally confirmed by the clinic team as eligible for clinic services.
The clinic creates a medical card for each applicant patient. Patients with diagnostic needs can seek treatment at the hospital of Peking University Health Science Center at any time. From 11:30 am to 5 pm on the last Saturday of each month, the clinic will reimburse the medical expenses incurred in the current month and approve the qualifications of planned patients.
It is understood that the Sunshine Love Clinic started trial operations on October 23, arranging physical examinations for six staff members of the school canteen, with all kinds of costs borne by the clinic. Students also established health records for these workers, allowing them to consult with students about their conditions at any time.
[Student-operated Free Clinics]
"Student-run Free Clinics (SRFC)" are completely operated and managed by students, targeting uninsured urban populations. This model has a 33-year history in the United States.
Surveys show that 53% of U.S. medical schools have established SRFCs, distributed across 25 states. Each semester, thousands of students participate in SRFC volunteer services, and tens of thousands of patients benefit from the clinic services. Donations from all sectors of society and government and school grants ensure annual operating funds ranging from $5,000 to $95,000 per SRFC; SRFCs have gradually become the top choice for medical students to perform volunteer services. Most SRFCs can offer blood pressure checks, blood sugar assessments, etc.
■ Dialogue
"Exploring a stable and effective free clinic model"
The Sunshine Love Clinic is affiliated with the hospital of Peking University Health Science Center, with all medical activities fully responsible by the hospital.
Dialogue participants: Jiang Xiaoxiao and Xue Kan (2006-level students of Peking University Health Science Center), initiators of the Sunshine Love Clinic.
Beijing News: Why establish a love clinic?
Love Clinic: During our research in the U.S., we found that more than half of American medical universities have set up "student-operated free clinics." Each medical student not only provides treatment to patients but also offers emotional support, resulting in patient satisfaction and recognition surpassing public hospitals. Upon returning, classmates believed this model could cultivate the humanitarian spirit and social responsibility of medical students, enhance doctors' professional ethics, and increase medical students' sense of professional belonging.
Beijing News: What diseases can be treated?
Love Clinic: Due to financial and personnel limitations, and for the protection of doctors engaged in unpaid activities, the clinic cannot handle high-risk or diseases requiring advanced equipment, such as any invasive surgeries or high-risk drug treatments. Initially, the scope of diseases treated by the clinic is limited to common illnesses like respiratory infections, gastrointestinal inflammations, and monitoring of chronic diseases like diabetes.
Beijing News: Since the clinic is operated by students who do not have practicing qualifications, does it constitute illegal medical practice?
Love Clinic: Although the clinic is organized and managed by students, all diagnoses and prescriptions are provided by the hospital of Peking University Health Science Center to ensure insurance coverage and effectiveness. Medical students do not participate in any diagnostic processes but may assist in preliminary preparations such as taking medical histories.
Beijing News: How would disputes during patient treatment be handled?
Love Clinic: The clinic is affiliated with the hospital of Peking University Health Science Center, and all medical actions are fully responsible by the hospital. If unpleasant events occur during treatment, they will be resolved by the hospital.
Beijing News: What does the free treatment include? Does it include medication?
Love Clinic: Currently, the clinic's funds are limited. We plan to provide a sponsorship standard of 600 yuan per person per year, covering examination fees, medication fees, etc.
Beijing News: What is the source of the clinic's funding?
Love Clinic: Mainly seeking assistance from social capital and exploring cooperation with multiple health aid institutions for single-disease coverage. Currently, the received aid amount is 6,000 yuan, so we plan to provide treatment services for ten patients initially.
Beijing News: What is the expected number of patients? What if it exceeds the capacity?
Love Clinic: We will issue Sunshine Love Clinic medical cards in advance and arrange appointments according to the application times. The number of patients depends on the availability of funds. If the funds are insufficient and there are many applicants, we will contact waiting patients after the funds are secured.
Beijing News: What do you hope the clinic will eventually achieve?
Love Clinic: Even if we help fifty people every year, we hope to explore a stable and effective model for student-operated free clinics through this method. We hope more medical colleges will join in establishing more such clinics to achieve greater social significance.