Sivananda Clinic Continues Its Free Healthcare Mission

Behind the waving Jalur Gemilang and the familiar cries of “Merdeka” lies another expression of the Malaysian spirit, one built on compassion, service and helping those in need.

For more than four decades, Sivananda Clinic, operated by the Divine Life Society, has opened its doors to Malaysians from all walks of life, providing free medical consultations and medication regardless of race or religion.

Cardiologist Datuk Seri Dr K Balachandran said the clinic provides treatment for common illnesses such as fever, flu and cough, as well as basic medical procedures including wound care, dressing and nebuliser treatment for patients experiencing breathing difficulties.

The clinic is open to everyone, with patients only needed to present their identity card. Dr Balachandran said the service has become increasingly important as the cost of seeking treatment at private clinics continues to rise.

“For some members of the community, even RM35 to RM50 for a consultation alone can be a burden, especially when the cost of medication is added.

“That is why our aim is to provide a charity clinic where people can receive treatment and medicine free of charge,” he said when met by Astro AWANI at the Divine Life Society on Monday.

For patients who require further medical attention, the clinic refers them to Hospital Selayang and maintains communication with the hospital to ensure they receive the appropriate care.

For Dr Balachandran, the greatest reward from volunteering is seeing patients recover and return to the clinic, sometimes bringing their family members with them.

He said the smiles and words of gratitude from those who have received help are more than enough to motivate him to continue serving the community even after retiring from the National Heart Institute (IJN).

Sivananda Clinic operates from 6pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, and is run by volunteer doctors and medical personnel.

The clinic is also set to revive its free dental service from this Saturday, after the service was suspended. Dr Balachandran said rising dental treatment costs had resulted in some people delaying or even avoiding dental care because of financial difficulties.

The revived service will provide treatments such as scaling and selected procedures through appointments, while tooth extractions may be carried out on the spot, depending on the doctor’s assessment. Meanwhile, Divine Life Society president Swami Samyamananda said charitable work has been one of the organisation’s core missions since its establishment in 1956.

He said the organisation’s work goes beyond providing assistance, as it also allows volunteers to understand the challenges faced by members of the community and identify ways to ease their burdens.

“When we do charitable work, we get to understand the difficulties faced by the community and what we can do to help,” he said.

In addition to healthcare services, the Divine Life Society also runs various welfare, education and community development programmes, including monthly assistance for single mothers, children’s education, yoga classes, computer classes and other community initiatives.

Although the organisation’s objective includes teaching Hinduism, Swami Samyamananda stressed that its charitable efforts are not limited to the Indian community. Instead, its services are extended to people from all backgrounds, regardless of their religion. 

Source / Image Credit : Awani