J

span class="inline inline-left">JP/Slamet SusantoFortune will come from God in the way men are willing to give part of their wealth to charity. Based on this principle, Umiyah Clinic in Purworejo, Central Java, is capable of operating on philanthropists’ donations by focusing on free medical care for poor people.

“We also use logic while maintaining the clinic with heart. As shown by history, literature and experience, good fortune comes along with charity and alms, or sodaqoh,” said Gunawan Setiadi, the Health Ministry’s former planning chief. He referred to business magnate Bill Gates, among many other figures, who annually contribute billions of dollars.

He related that when he occupied a modest mortgaged home in Pamulang, Banten, he owned Rp 10 million reserved for renovation. But at the same time his relatives were in great need of help. “Finally I just made minor changes and contributed most of my money as sodaqoh. Later I could even afford to buy another house,” added Gunawan, who eventually granted charity both to orphans and street children.

Sharing wealth with the poor, according to him, needs frequent practice to avoid greed. People who donate with sincerity win public confidence and it’s this trust that brings them good fortune. “That’s the logic of sharing with others for God’s blessing,” he pointed out.

To invite public donations to charity to help the ailing poor, the clinic was named after a very poor resident, Umiyati, who met with a tragic fate as she was beyond the reach of the government’s health insurance scheme. Coming from Krendetan village, Bagelen, Purworejo, the wife of a becak (pedicab) driver suffered from a type of hernia for 12 years.

Applying for public health insurance service, the poor family was rejected. Finally through a collective charity movement, Umiyati was taken to Yogyakarta for surgery. Though the operation was smooth, she could not survive. Inspired by the case, the clinic was set up and expected to be the meeting place of interested parties — poor patients, philanthropists, volunteers and professionals.

Now operating on a plot of 1,000 square meters donated by residents, the clinic virtually serves as a hospital with two inpatient rooms and a maternity ward. A house for mental patients is planned to be built on the site. “We call on people wishing to save for the hereafter and live a peaceful life, to sincerely contribute to our effort for the poor,” appealed Gunawan.

Needy people in Purworejo no longer have to be worried about medical expenses when they get sick today because on Jl. Ring Road Utara, Lugosobo, Purworejo, Umiyah Clinic has operated since 2010 to provide free medical care. Patients need only to leave some money as a gift (infaq) or nothing at all if they cannot spare.

Marsudi, a timber industrial worker who had an accident and was treated at Umiyah, claimed the clinic had rendered medical service hospitably and sincerely. “I feel calm without bothering about money for my treatment and I’m recovering,” said the father of one child.

“Patients are suggested to give some voluntary infaq because totally free service may be less educative, but if they can’t afford it it’s okay,” said Gunawan, the chief founder of Umiyah, which lists 700 to 1,000 patients monthly with their infaq totaling Rp 5 million to 6 million. At the operational cost of Rp 20 million to 30 million per month, the clinic relies on charity funds to cover the shortfall.

When it was founded in 2010, with a volunteer physician and several nurses, Umiyah focused on maternity care for its relatively lower operational cost. In the first three months, the number of general patients was swelling. The management even once considered limiting the number to 100 monthly.

“Some people scornfully said the clinic would close down in two years. But up to the present we’ve never been in deficit and have even recorded a balance of Rp 65 million,” said Gunawan. The balance is meant for the clinic’s development and the handling of unexpected cases requiring special treatment.

At present, Umiyah has four doctors, four senior nurses and an assistant pharmacist. To promote its service, it will open internal disease and surgery departments. A surgeon is now ready to cooperate and help poor people needing operations. The specialist will handle his patients at a referral hospital and the clinic and be in charge of their recuperation.

The clinic also cooperates with local family welfare associations (PKK) to help handle these patients’ procedural matters and reduce their charges. A senior doctor at Umiyah, Padmi Bekti Lestari, claimed to devote herself to the clinic not for money. “I work with private hospitals where money is first required for medical care. But what about poor families?” queried Padmi.

To share with the poor, Padmi has left one of the several hospitals to enable her to serve the clinic. “I earn my living from the other hospitals and I enjoy my happiness here, which can’t be valued by money,” she revealed.

All clinic finances are openly reported by announcing them on the website and notice board. Umiyah personnel also receive salaries above minimum rates. “But it’s not our main goal. If your media publish a report on this clinic, what we primarily expect is to make the poor informed of the place where money poses no problem to medical care,” she added.