The Quan Yin Healing Arts Center takes it name from the Chinese bhodisattva of healing and compassion. If the City continues to cut public health funding, Quan Yin’s patients might need to pray to the goddess for relief.

Founded in 1984, Quan Yin specializes in chronic illness and treats about 5,500 patients each year who augment Western medical care with traditional Chinese methods, such as acupuncture, therapeutic massage, herbal medicine and meditation.

Their main office is in the Mission District. However with DPH funding cuts looming, Wilson said they might have to close all 10 of their satellite offices. Those affected include Hospitality House, Mission Neighborhood Resource Center and the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center.

She also said at least 600 people have already lost access to their services to treatment for HIV, hepatitis C, cancer, diabetes and depression. Often patients pay out of pocket at a discount rate or use Medi-Cal. Wilson is afraid many more—especially HIV patients—will lose their sole avenue to health care.

“The budget cuts are draconian and unconscionable, and they impact a wide variety of people who don’t have anywhere to go for services,” executive director Carla Wilson said. “There’s no place to refer them… We were that referral.”

TJ

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