Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  

1.On average, how many patients does the SBFC treat every year?

Based on data from the past three years, an average of 244,000 patients had sought treatment at our clinic each year. Total patient visit is 830,000 times.

2.What are your clinic charges?

Generally a dollar fee for consultation and medicine cost per visit. Senior citizens above 60 of age, Buddhist Sangha as well as persons who are receiving social welfare assistance are exempted from payment. Currently, over 62% of our patients are not charged any fee while less than 38% are fee paying patients.

3.Can you briefly describe your annual income and expenses?

Base on the financial year ending March 2011, total income collected was $3,656,614.72 while expenses amounted to $3,074,840.63 there was thus reserve of $581,774.09.

4.What is your staff strength? Give a breakdown by occupational roles and what is their remuneration?

Total of 80 persons are employed by the five clinics and one rehabilitation centre as follow

• Administrative staff: 11 in charge of administrative work (Including human resource and accounts management)
• Physicians: 23 (Consultation and acupuncturists)
• Clinic Supervisors: 5 (Procurement, Inventory management and managing clinic affairs)
• Service staff: 33 (Registering of patients, dispensing medicine and provide assistance during acupuncture treatment)
• Housekeepers: 7 (Cleaning and maintaining hygiene conditions of the clinics)
• Driver: 1

Members of the staff stated above are employed by the SBFC either on a full-time or part-time basis. Staff remuneration is reviewed and revised periodically by the Board of directors. Salaries drawn by member of our staff are generally lower than market rates. Based on the terms of the employment contract, our employees are entitled to a thirteen month bonus

5.How does SBFC make use of public donation?

In 2010, about 84.88% of expenses are related to charitable activities, 13.79% for administrative cost, fundraising cost made up the remaining 1.33%. For every free consultation, the cost is $3.60 per visit. For a fee-paying patient, the has to subsidies $2.60.

6.How long can the reserves last?

The SBFC operates in compliance with regulations laid down by the Commissioner of Charities as well as the MOH. Every year, the SBFC aims only to collect sufficient donations to cover expenses, with a small surplus ideally. Currently, our reserve amount about $6 million. Without any donation, this reserve will only last for two years.