The Village Clinic in Tsawwassen is trying to do its part to help those struggling with the financial burden of health care due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An initiative that started in January, Village Clinic has been offering a free health clinic every last Friday of the month.
“We have had some amazing patients so far who wouldn’t be able to afford integrative medicine otherwise,” said Dr. Heli Mcphie. “It was a perfect storm really…partially because of COVID and because naturopathic medicine is a pay for service and often out of reach for a lot of people. I think naturopathic doctors sometimes get a bad rap and there is this idea that it is terribly expensive, and it is, but I just thought, I wanted to give back to this community. Some of my patients couldn’t come at all because of COVID. They lost their jobs or their benefits because of COVID, so we created this. It is a year-long initiative.
“It's truly designed for young students and families, and those who are having a bit of financial trouble during COVID and anyone who would like our care, but cannot afford it.”
Mcphie says she has no other motive for the free clinic other than to support this community.
“People keep questioning that, but sometimes a simple truth is just that,” she said. “I suppose kindness grows from gratitude and I am very grateful to this community. I grew up here and in Africa, and feel so grateful for both of these magical places. I suppose it is why I raised my three beautiful boys here and built my clinic here.”
She said she is trying to find donors to help cover costs of supplements so everything can truly be free, but for now they have all kinds of appointments available for anyone.
“My dream would be that more services join us for free community clinic day,” she said. “I’d love to see, and I would challenge more of our health care professionals to offer a free clinic day once a month.”
To find out more about the clinic and book your appointment see: www.thevillageclinic.com.
