A new clinic opened earlier this month aims to provide free health care to poor patients from various faiths.

The clinic is based in the compound of the Tam Tong temple in Ho Chi Minh City, run by the indigenous religious group Minh Ly.

“The clinic is served by 18 health-care workers from four faiths: Buddhism, Catholicism, Cao Dai and Minh Ly,” said Dai Bac, a Minh Ly leader and administrator at the clinic.

Dai Bac said he was grateful to the Ho Chi Minh City archdiocese’ Committee on Interfaith Ministry, which worked with foreign charities to raise financial support for the clinic.

Clinic workers volunteer their services as well as donating money to supply medicine for patients, he said.

The clinic offers basic medical examinations, medicines and also traditional treatments such as acupuncture.

“The clinic shows that local followers of different faiths live in harmony and work together to serve the poor,” said Nguyen Tan Tri, one of six doctors working at the clinic.

Patients can visit the clinic Monday through Friday between 2pm and 4pm, Nguyen said, adding that on average about 20 patients come for treatment each day.