Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  

1. How many patients are the Buddhist Free Clinic attended to?

Based on statistics of the past three years, the average total number of patients per year is about 216,000 and total patient-days are about 770,000.

2. What are the charges?

The general public is charged $1 per day and this covers registration, consultation and medication. There will be no charge for senior citizens above the age of 60, Buddhist monks and nuns as well as those receiving social welfare grants. Currently, 62% of our patients are not charged at all while the other 38% are fee paying patients.

3. What is the percentage between annual income and expenses?

Based on the annual financial report for fiscal year for Apr 2007 to Mar 2008, the total annual income and expenditure were $2,804,192 and $2,539,914 respectively, surplus $264,278

4. What is your total staff strength? What are their salaries or bonus?

With five branches and an rehabilitation centre, the total staff strength is 80. A breakdown of the various positions is detailed below:

• Administrative Officers: 10 (responsible for all administrative functions, including human resource and financial management)
• Medical Physicians: 23 (including internal medicine practitioners and acupuncturists)
• Clinic Supervisors: 5 (in charge of acquisition and management of medical stock and clinical work)
• Attendants: 35 (responsible for patient registration, dispensing, and assistance in acupuncture)
• Housekeepers: 6 (responsible for cleaning of whole clinic and other miscellaneous tasks)
• Driver: 1

The above personnel are employees of the Free Clinic, full-time or part-time. The salary scales are reviewed by the Board of Management periodically. Normally, their remuneration is below market rate. During the years of economic downturn, employees' salaries were frozen for a couple of years and staff readily accepted the freeze.

All staffs are paid thirteen month bonus every year in accordance to employment contract. During those years when the economy was good, they were given an extra one month on top of the thirteenth month bonus. In recent years, the extra bonus has been half-month.

5. every one dollar of donation, how much of it is used on patients?

Besides the cost of medicine that accounts for 25% of the total expenses, remuneration of medical staff takes up another 57%. Other costs items incurred are essential expenses for the overall operation of free medical services and medication.

6. How long can the reserves last?

The clinic complies with guidelines stipulated by Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Registry of Charities and National Council of Social Services. The amount of fund raised every year is just enough to meet the expenditure. Ideally, there should be a small surplus. The expenses are usually above 90% of the income. In recent years, we have even experienced deficits. Hence, little or none of public donations is left for reserve. Currently, the total reserve stands at $3 million which could sustain the Clinic for one and a half year without any donation received.

7. Singapore Buddhist Free clinic come under the purview of which government ministry?

The IPC (Institution of Public Charity) status of the Clinic is granted by the Ministry of Health. Donations are exempted from income tax and come under the purview of Ministry of Health's endowment fund (HEF). All details for tax exempted donation must be lodged with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore by the first month of the following year.

8. How is the operation of each clinic monitored?

The 33 members of the Management Board and two honorary auditors are elected at the annual general meeting by members every two years. The board will convene meeting once every two months to discuss issues of the Clinic. Monthly financial reports are prepared and presented at each board meeting. The board appoints an accounting firm to audit the accounts. All aspects of administrative and financial functions are performed in a transparent manner. Members of the public can visit our website or call 67487292 for further clarifications.