Myeik Free Clinic's committee member, Dr. Tin Soe Moe, interviewed

"The current medical expenses are around 2 million Kyats per month. This is because we provide two weeks of medicine free of charge to each patient." Currently, due to rising medicine prices, low-income families are increasingly relying on free clinics. Among these, the free clinic in Myeik City is one such clinic that the financially struggling depend on. This free clinic operates three days a week, offering free treatment starting with medication. Here are excerpts from an interview with Dr. Tin Soe Moe, a leading committee member of the Myeik Free Clinic, which provides free treatment. Q: When did you start your free clinic? A: We opened our clinic on January 8, 2026. However, the foundation was actually laid during our COVID period. During the COVID period, we operated as a Fever Clinic. Q: With what objective did you decide to run a free clinic like this? A: The objective is that currently, many people face difficulties when going to clinics and hospitals for treatment, despite having health awareness and knowledge. We are operating with the aim of helping in any way we can for health. Q: How do you operate your free clinic? A: We are currently operating solely on donations from donors. Since we are genuinely working, donors do not leave. Because we are working honestly and diligently. Now, the reliance of patients is increasing, and so are the donors. We operate with donation money. Q: How many days a week is the clinic open? A: Three days a week. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Everything is free, starting with the medicine. Q: How much does it cost per month to operate your free clinic? A: We have around 1300 patients per month. Currently, medical expenses are around 2 million Kyats per month. This is because we provide two weeks of medicine free of charge to each patient. Two weeks' worth is at least 20,000 Kyats. Around 2 million Kyats is just for medicine. Including other operational costs, it's about 2.5 to 3 million Kyats. We have a total of 25 staff members. Most of them are volunteers. Only about five of them receive a small allowance. The rest receive nothing. We have to arrange food and drinks for them when they come. We have to buy necessary documents for the clinic. We have to buy registration books for patients. All of that combined costs about 2.5 to 3 million Kyats per month. Q: Do you plan to extend the operating days of your free clinic? A: Our plan is to expand as much as we can. In reality, on our three operating days a week, there are days when more than 200 patients come. When we first started, we trained children to help run it. We have three doctors. Also, retired nurses and others are volunteering their services. They come and cooperate. Now, our manpower has increased. We will expand and operate based on the increased manpower, as much as we can. Q: Currently, medicine prices are also high. What difficulties do you face as a free clinic? A: In the current situation, it is manageable. We are also trying our best to sustain ourselves. The current situation is manageable. For the long term, we are planning to establish a medicine donation program in the future. We also aim to establish a foundation and continue in the future.