The Free People's Clinic

The Free People's Clinic began operation n January, 1971, to provide an alternative for the many people who-were not receiving adequate health care either because of lack of money, because of the general bogueness that exists with most doctors and hospitals, or both. It was hoped that the Free Clinic would not only provide an economic alternative to the established institutions, but would also be a model of the way that health care should and could be delivered to people.

The Free People's Clinic believes that health care is a human right, and not a privilege to be based on how much money a person has or anything else; that health care means caring about people, not just treating their diseases; that an emphasis on health education, preventative medicine, demystification and unprofessionalism of medicine must underlie all interactions between staff and patients; and that no hierarchical structures can exist among clinic staff and between staff and patients.

Presently the Clinic functions as an out patient service and can diagnose and treat many illnesses as well as educate people on what they can do to stay healthy. The lab can do blood and urine tests for such things as mono, hepatitis, pregnancy, VD, and other conditions and infections; the pharmacy carries antibiotics and other medicines to help make sick bodies well; and there is information and counseling for VD problems, sex education, abortion referral, and nutrition. The Clinic hopes to be able to expand its services in the future, but as more and more people come to the clinic many people began to realize that the the Clinic was becoming just as bad as the honk institutions. Not only was it not acting as a model, but it took the responsibility from those who should have been  doing it. It became clear that the answer to the community's health needs did not Me only in the existence of a free clinic, but the existing institutions had to be forced to become responsive to the people of the community.

The Free Clinic knows that it alone will not be able to provide adequate health care to the people of this community so in addition to providing the services that it presently provides, the Clinic will be struggling to force the present medical institutions to use their vast facilities, which are said to be the best in the world, to the use of all the people. The Free Clinic calls for neighborhood clinics throughout the city which are controlled by the community and the staff of the clinics.

The Clinic is open Monday thru Thursday from 7 pm until all the patients have been seen. When you go you should go early to insure that you are seen as early as possible. If you have some questions or just need some advice, you can call the Clinic at 761-8952 or stop by upstairs at the Community Center. What we demand is free, complete health care for everyone.

Power to the People!