As well as being one of the Republic of China's best-known gynecologists, Fang Li-chieh also fills the role of being wife to a surgeon and bringing up two sons. Yet she still finds time to be a volunteer at the Chinese Medical Women's Association Clinic. Her belief in the important work of the clinic persuades her to give up her valuable time to work there.

Dr. Fang greets every patient with the same concern and compassion, a quality shown in all the doctors at the clinic. She says she is glad to be of service even though after a busy session at the clinic she must quickly return home to prepare dinner for the family. It is clear from this that the clinic is staffed by a group of dedicated physicians who provide patients with unstinted care and devotion.

The clinic was set up by the Chinese Medical Women's Association, which was founded in 1954 and has since become a member of the International Medical Women's Association which holds conferences every two years to disseminate new knowledge and techniques and establish communications among member organizations worldwide. As they became active in the international association, members of the local group started to wonder how they could best organize something for the public benefit in Taiwan. In 1963, they found the answer with the establishment of the clinic.

Director Dr. Fan Chang-sung discussed the objectives of both the organization and the clinic. "We have brought our skills and abilities together and combined them with medical research in order to help the government improve public health. We also take advantage of our organization's international conventions to discuss new skills and techniques. The establishment of the clinic was the realization of an ideal to help people with low incomes."

The clinic employs the services of many specialists, including internists; pediatricians; gynecologists; optometrists; dentists; dermatologists; cardiologists; ear, nose, and throat specialists; and mental hygiene workers. Services include free inoculations and blood pressure examinations, PAP smears and cryosurgery for cervitis, while dental services include fillings and extractions, which along with eye examinations, are free for children. Special services include speech and hearing therapy for handicapped children.

Fees are always reasonable and registration, examination, and medicinal fees are free for exceptionally low-income earners. For ordinary patients the registration fee is only NT$30 (US$0.75) and medicines are sold at cost. The clinic uses the money to cover such expenses as equipment, medicine, and nurses' salaries, but the doctors themselves sometimes have to make a contribution. The clinic was actually bought with NT$2 million (US$50,000) lent by the doctors interest-free.

Even though women working at the clinic often have other jobs and family duties, there is rarely any conflict between work and home. Dr. Kuan Hsueh-wan, a dentist at the Taiwan University Hospital, commented: "Growing up in a family of doctors, I was always aware of how busy and hectic a doctor's life is, so of course, I was able to find a way to cope with my responsibilities. Once you are used to it, it becomes second nature. My son is a doctor too."

Dr. Chi Su-mei's surgeon husband is sympathetic and helpful, so the two lead a happy and harmonious married life. Because of the support from their families, the women doctors can concentrate on their work without any distractions.

Nurses at the clinic prepare medical instruments, register patients, compile records, give vaccinations, administer medicine, accept fees, and send specimens to the laboratory for testing. Nurse Chen Lan said: "We work with the Tao Sheng-hsiang Cancer Foundation in giving patients PAP smears. We hope even more women will take advantage of this service."

Every day there are two nurses on duty, and even during their lunch break they answer telephones and questions from patients. Because of what many people feel is insufficient publicity, the Medical Women's Clinic's services are not widely known among the public. Nurse Chiou Li-hsiang explains: "Besides word of mouth introductions, we also rely on door-to-door canvassing in the neighborhood, which we do when we have the time."

Finding money and volunteers are the clinic's major problems. Because of the large number of patients who receive free treatment it is often difficult to make ends meet. Without outside contributions, it would be impossible to keep the clinic open.

Currently the only donations the clinic can depend on are US$250 sent by the American Women's Hospital Service Organization every month and another donation made by the Central Women's Service Organization. Remaining operating costs are covered by occasional donations made by community service organizations and individuals.

The First and Second Chapters of the Chung Ta Association donated money so that the clinic could buy a dental cleaning machine, and a weighing scale. The Wen Sha Pharmaceutical Co. often donates supplies so that patients can buy high-quality medicines at low cost. When the Kuting Branch of the Lions' Club heard of the clinic's needs it donated a complete dental chair and drill. Besides these, the Central Clinic and the Nan Chang Hang often make donations for equipment purchases.

Individual contributions are usually made by the doctors' friends and relatives.

There are usually 14 or 15 doctors on duty all the time, but many are advanced in years and there is great need for an infusion of new blood. Many young doctors who would like to help out do not have the time, however, and this is a source of great concern to the clinic.

For almost 20 years, doctors and nurses at the clinic have been providing free or low cost medical treatment to low-income earners. Their dedication and contributions are truly an inspiration. Everyone, especially the patients, hopes the clinic will be able to overcome its current problems and continue serving the community for many years to come.

[Picture Caption]

Left: The Chinese Medical Women's Association Clinic is given financial assistance by the Women's Department KMT and the American Women's Hospitals Service. Right top: The clinic is located in this housing project to serve the needs of the residents. Right bottom: Because the clinic is staffed entirely by women doctors, many women go there for treatment.

Head of the clinic, Dr. Fan Chang-sung, is an eye specialist. Although her schedule is very busy she makes time every week to examine patients personally.

The clinic is located in this housing project to serve the needs of the residents.

Because the clinic is staffed entirely by women doctors, many women go there for treatment.

Head of the clinic, Dr. Fan Chang-sung, is an eye specialist. Although her schedule is very busy she makes time every week to examine patients personally.