A local doctor who set up the city's first privately owned charity hospital says the facility is losing 100,000 yuan (US$12,048) a month and he needs to find donors or sponsors to keep the facility open and help the poor.

Ding Xuejin, a tumor specialist, opened Shanghai Ciai Hospital on February 18. The hospital, which specializes in treating cancer, offers large discounts to the needy.

"Ciai means we serve our patients with the whole heart but not for free. To help patients living under the poverty line, we set up a special fund, which consists of some hospital income and patients' gifts refused by our doctors," said Ding. "If patients have certificates from the civil affairs authorities or have real difficulty, we will give them a 20 to 30 percent discount on their medical bills."

However, Ding said almost all of the hospital's patients claimed they are too poor to pay their medical bills, and many are upset when doctors refuse to waive the entire fee.

"As a new hospital, we only earn about 50,000 yuan a month. The total cost of rent, salaries and subsidies to the patients is more than 150,000 yuan every month," Ding said, adding that he has to make up the shortfall from his own pocket every month.

Many people have contacted Ding about investing in the hospital, he said.

"I refused all these requests, since the investors wanted to make a quick buck and weren't interested in charity. That is why I personally invested 4 million yuan in the hospital," he said. "I must adhere to the theme of charity, even though there are many difficulties."

He said the best way for companies to help him out would be to buy a piece of necessary equipment and then share the income the equipment generates with the hospital.

Wu Ming, a 53-year-old with lung cancer, is living in the hospital's charity ward.

"My wife died of cancer 10 years ago. I am living on some 200 yuan a month from the social security fund for people living under the poverty line. I left the previous hospital after using up all of my savings," Wu said. "My relatives sent me here after hearing about this charity hospital. The officials are so kind to me and helped me contact the civil affairs bureau and my neighborhood committee about subsidies and donations."

(Shanghai Daily May 20, 2005)