Starting here over 10 years ago, Dr Elroy is one of HealthServe’s longest volunteers. It was his church friend who introduced him to Dr Goh Wei Leong, the founder of HealthServe. Since then, he began volunteering at HealthServe consistently. During those days, he mainly helped out with administrative work, but now he provides medical services as a GP doctor.
As he compared the different profiles of patients in HealthServe and in the private clinic setting, he told us that one key difference is the financial constraints migrant workers face in receiving medical care. “Financial consideration is very important [here]. There is a huge difference between migrant workers and foreigners with insurance or Singaporeans who can afford [medical care]… Very sad, at the end of the day, there is only so much I can do. If there really is a condition that needs to be referred out, [we need to consider that] foreigners do not have subsidies. It will be very costly.”
When asked to share what kept him going all these years, he told us that “At the end of the day, you cannot be living life for yourself. If God gives you a particular skill set, and if there is a need, then you should serve. [I volunteer at HealthServe] knowing that I need to serve and give back to community either way. We cannot live life to just to please ourselves.”
We are very touched and thankful to have such doctors who feel for the migrant workers and take time out of their busy schedules to volunteer their services here at HealthServe.
