Tung Shin -- A Hospital That Puts People First In Its Heart
By Rosemarie Khoo Mohd Sani
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Strolling through the city of Kuala Lumpur, there stands a hospital that has stood the test of time for 142 years. For over a century, it has witnessed the development of Kuala Lumpur and Malaysian society.
Some might have heard about a hospital named “Tung Shin” before, but only a handful of people know that the hospital is 142 years old and has gone through times of war, famine, and economic turbulence and witnessed the nation’s independence.
Initially named Pooi Shin Thong in 1881, the late Yap Kwan Seng, who was the fifth and last Kapitan Cina in Selangor, established the institution during the British colonial administration by using his personal funds to help provide free medical services and funeral arrangements for the poor.
The hospital is one of Yap’s many contributions to the development of Kuala Lumpur, apart from schools and charitable organisations.
The businessman and philanthropist’s legacy continued to be recognised in Kuala Lumpur, where his name is associated with Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, the road having been built on the land Yap donated and today is a well-known road near the Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers.
Tung Shin Hospital chief operating officer Teng Yu Yuet said the establishment began as a clinic along Jalan Petaling to help labourers who were mainly migrants from China and India working in tin mining and brick making in Kuala Lumpur (along Klang and Gombak River and Brickfields).
“When Kapitan Yap saw the need for medical care, he returned to China and brought two Chinese practitioners to attend to patients. He ran it with his own funds for an uninterrupted period of 13 years.
“When the tin and brick industries were booming, there was more demand for medical care, and Yap was not able to fund it all by himself. He looped in his friends and other businessmen, including Loke Yew, to come in and set up a community hospital.
“Hence, Pooi Shin Thong evolved its name to Tung Shin. The word ‘Tung’ means together, and ‘Shin’ means to do charity, so together they do charity,” she told Bernama.
Historical establishment of Tung Shin and additional support
With additional funds from the community leaders and support from the British government, the hospital was granted land at its current location of Tung Shin and was gazetted for its construction in 1894. The hospital was officially inaugurated on Nov 22, 1895, by Mrs JP Rodger, the wife of the acting British Resident of Selangor.
“The hospital became a vital healthcare institution, and patients were transported to the hospital’s doors by bullock carts, which were transformed into ambulances,” said Teng.
She said there was nominal financial support from the British government from the tax money collected from the mining industry, but the majority of operations were supported by donations by the community leaders who are merchants and philanthropists.
Among the donors in the initial years were Liew Weng Chi (who donated the female ward -- Loke Yin Ward), the Haw Par brothers (Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par) who were also the founders of Tiger Balm products and Sin Chew Jit Poh (who donated the male ward -- Haw Par Ward).
Subsequently, Teng said a council was created to form a trustee to manage the fund and govern the establishment on day-to-day operations.
“Interestingly, it has managed to be passed on from generation to generation, and they have been holding onto the same core values -- to help the needy.
“We are also a non-profit institution. This means that we do not have any shareholders. Any profits made are ploughed back for the development and sustenance of the services of Tung Shin Hospital,” she said.
However, when Western medical services were established, the hospital could not give free services; instead, patients were charged a subsidised rate. This is because the costs of equipping the hospital with new medical technology and equipment and engaging doctors and health professionals were high.
Teng, who has been with Tung Shin for the past five years, said that the hospital does have a channel for those who require welfare and really need financial assistance.
Perception Of Tung Shin Hospital
For many who have never been to the hospital, they may think its main purpose is to serve the Chinese community.
The writer is also not excluded until she had to undergo an X-ray there as it offers the most affordable rate. Among the first things that were noticeable to the writer were the hospital structures that looked rather old but sturdy and the list of donors on the side walls of the building.
But soon after, the writer saw that quite a number of hospital officials and patients from all ethnicities were seen moving around the hospital compound, seeking not only modern medicine but also treatments using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
“We are not serving only one race; this hospital is open and serves all races. We also have a surau for our Muslim patrons, and we learned about the requirements for a proper surau. We received good suggestions and feedback from a Muslim patient to upgrade our surau.
Teng added that as the hospital continues strengthening its services by acquiring adequate and appropriate technology, equipment and facilities to perform accurate diagnoses and proper treatment effectively, it is trying its best to provide affordable and accessible healthcare services.
“Modern medicine (also known as Western medicine) provides diagnosis through lab test and imaging procedures and treats organ or health problems through scientifically proven drugs and/or surgery. It has rapid and immediate effects. It is highly effective for life-threatening conditions.
“Whereas TCM focuses on the body’s overall response to treatment, the onset of treatment efficacy will take longer.
“We see good clinical outcomes of a combination therapy using Western medicine to acute treatment to address the current clinical diagnosis and symptoms and TCM such as acupuncture, tuina, herbal medicine as an adjunctive therapy to improve bodily functions and pain relief,” she said.
Keeping its doors open for all people
As they kept true to their vision, which is Staying true to their vision to help the people regardless of their financial status, Tung Shin has always remained more affordable to many.
What’s interesting is that the hospital’s rounds of fundraising have garnered support not only from Malaysia but also involved Hong Kong superstars, including Jacky Cheung and Jackie Chan, through their concerts and movie income, as well as Hong Kong production company Shaw Brothers helped build one of the buildings in the hospital.
“Today, Tung Shin has grown to become a comprehensive acute tertiary healthcare facility providing services ranging from general medicine to a full range of specialities such as cardiology, cancer care, eye care, dermatology, ear, nose and throat (ENT), digestive health, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, urology, woman and child health.
“We are just like any other private healthcare provider, but we firmly hold onto our core value to make healthcare more accessible to the local community.
“Having said that, it is not without challenge to perform a balancing act between reasonable charges and the ongoing rise of material and operating costs, rapid change of medical technologies, shortage of healthcare workers and inflation,” said Teng.
While maintaining the core values of providing an affordable healthcare plan is challenging, as most hospitals are heading towards privatisation to keep up with their operating costs, Tung Shin has stood its ground to provide alternative, affordable healthcare to the masses.
One valuable lesson we can all glean from this establishment is the power of unwavering commitment to a core value that will fortify us even in the face of adversity.
-- BERNAMA