Volunteers for the Taiwan-headquartered global Buddhist charity and humanitarian organization Tzu Chi Charity Foundation recently led a large-scale, multinational free clinic in Cambodia’s Takeo Province from 30 May–1 June, bringing vital medical care and hope to rural families, who often struggle to access even basic healthcare.
“This event, organized through the collaboration of international and local teams, was not just about medical treatment—it was about restoring dignity, relieving suffering, and building a bridge of compassion,” Tzu Chi said in a recent statement. (Tzu Chi Foundation)
The availability of healthcare in Cambodia’s rural provinces is severely limited, with only 1.4 health workers per 1,000 people, and with most qualified doctors concentrated in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. High out-of-pocket expenses places access to medical treatment further out of the reach of underprivileged rural populations .
The free clinic was composed of nearly 200 medical professionals and volunteers from Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan, bringing expertise in internal medicine, surgery, dentistry, traditional Chinese medicine, and ophthalmology.
“The success of the clinic was built on strong local partnerships,” Tzu Chi explained. “The Samdech Techo Voluntary Youth Doctor Association (TYDA) and Cambodian businesses played key roles, not only by providing resources but also by encouraging staff to volunteer. Ming-Hsuan Hsieh, head of Tzu Chi Cambodia, coordinated logistics and created a welcoming environment for patients, ensuring privacy and comfort throughout the clinic. His leadership and the dedication of local volunteers were crucial in making the event run smoothly.” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
Over the course of three days, the clinic provided 3,701 consultations, with 933 volunteer shifts, providing much-need medical attending and brining hope and dignity to thousands in rural Cambodia.
The Philippine Tzu Chi Eye Center team performed 108 cataract and pterygium surgeries and provided consultations to 107 patients, with ongoing follow-ups arranged through local volunteer ophthalmologists. Deputy Superintendent Heng-Chia Chang from Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital treated several heart failure patients, and provided guidance to help them manage their conditions.
A young mother, Lim Siv Mey, found effective treatment for her daughter’s skin condition after months of failed attempts. Elderly couple Sok Sun and Vorn Thy regained their eyesight after years of near-blindness, restoring independence to their family by enabling their children to return to work rather than caring for their parents. Ra Pisey, who had suffered from tooth pain for half a year, received successful dental care.
Many patients expressed gratitude, with one proclaiming: “We have nothing to give but to wish them well, long life, and may you come next year to help our Cambodian people again.” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Republic of China, more widely known as the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, was founded in Taiwan in 1966 by the Buddhist nun and Dharma teacher Master Cheng Yen. With a focus on “putting compassion into action,” the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a UN-accredited NGO with some 10 million supporters and 432 offices worldwide across 51 countries, undertaking regular activities in the fields of humanitarian aid, medical care, education, and environmental sustainability.
As a global icon of socially engaged Buddhism, Master Cheng Yen has expressed a deeply held belief that all people are capable of manifesting the same great compassion as the Buddha. She has noted that true compassion is not simply feeling sympathy for the suffering of others, but is found in reaching out to relieve suffering with concrete action.
Master Cheng Yen is popularly known in Taiwan as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Buddhism, the others being: Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain; Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan; and Master Wei Chueh, founder of Chung Tai Shan. These four global Buddhist orders, correspondingly known as the “Four Great Mountains,” have grown to become among the most influential Chinese Buddhist organizations in the world.
See more
Tzu Chi Foundation
Tzu Chi USA
United for Care: Cambodia’s Free Clinic Brings Healing and Hope (Tzu Chi Foundation)
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