Yang Shulin offers medical service to a patient. [Photo/WeChat account of Ordosnews]

A doctor in Ordos, Inner Mongolia’s autonomous region, who focuses on using traditional Mongolian medical techniques was recently praised by a local media organization for offering free medical service to patients with disability. 

The doctor, whose name is Yang Hualin, operates a clinic in Ejin Horoo Banner, Ordos. Four years ago, he pledged to offer free medical services to patients in Ulaan Mulun town for three years starting from Aug 10, 2014 to Oct 10, 2017, and he fulfilled his promise. 

Recently, another cycle for free medical service that was planned to last until Oct 10, 2020 was initiated. His patients are now those suffering from disability in Hongqinghe town. 

Yang, aged 60-plus, was born into a family of doctors for generations. At a young age, he witnessed, and was deeply touched by, the dedication and proficiency his father and uncle showed in treating patients, and gradually fell in love with the profession. 

With 40 years of experience behind him, not only has he mastered the distinctive Mongolian medical techniques, but has also developed several varieties of Mongolian medicines that have proven to be effective. 

“I usually get to my clinic at 9:00 am and get off work at least by 6:00 pm,” said Yang in an interview. 

According to available, but incomplete, statistics, he receives around 10,000 patients every year. Patients from cities outside Ordos, such as Hohhot, Baotou, Shaanxi province and Shanxi province come to him despite the long distance. 

In 2014, when he attended a meeting for people with disability in Ulaan Mulun town, he found that nearly half of the 200 attendees suffered from various chronic diseases. However, many patients were reluctant, or unable, to receive medical treatment due to financial constraints. 

As a person with disability of the hands himself, he was even more aware of the hardship faced by patients with disability. Therefore, he decided to start a “three-year program” offering free medical treatment. 

Li Zhuanze, who represents the first batch of beneficiaries of the three-year medical program, was once a patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis that almost left him incapable of walking. 

In 2014, he became a recipient of the free medical service offed by Yang. After three years of treatment, he is able to move as he pleases and can even engage in farm work. 

Li expressed his gratitude to Yang in an interview, saying that Yang did not charge him  even one cent during the three years. 

Li is not the only beneficiary who has benefited from this. By the end of the first three-year medical program, Yang had provided free medical services to more than 500 patients with disability in Ulaan Mulun town. 

During the three years, he spent more than 200,000 yuan ($29,842) towards the cost of the medicine that was offered to patients for free. 

Currently, over 700 patients with disability in Hongqinghe town are expected to benefit from the start of the second three-year medical program. 

“My only wish is to make the ‘three-year program’ cover all the other towns in Ejin Horoo Banner and help more patients to get rid of their pain. That is why I chose to be a doctor, and I will never forget it,” Yang stated.