“Is it really free?”
That’s the reaction many people have when they first learn about the Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California. The medical clinic belies most peoples’ mental image of a “free clinic,” with its prime location near Oakland’s Lake Merritt, its bright, modern and welcoming interior, a full complement of advanced equipment, and a robust team of medical professionals.
The Order of Malta Clinic, 2121 Harrison St., at 21st Street in Oakland. Visit online or call 510-587-3000 for more information on patient services, hours, in-person and telemedicine appointments, volunteer opportunities, and how to make a gift.
Since its founding in 2008, the Order of Malta Clinic has logged more than 62,000 patient visits at absolutely no cost to patients. No fees for services or lab tests, no sliding scale, not even a system for accepting payments. The clinic exists for the sole purpose of caring for those who have no health insurance or who are severely underinsured — not as a stopgap, but as a lifeline, their only source of safe and trusted medical care.
Yong Wen volunteers as a medical assistant on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings.
“I grew up in Oakland, and volunteering at the Clinic felt like a meaningful way to give back while also expanding my medical knowledge,” Wen said.
The Uninsurance crisis
The need is acute: an estimated 400,000 people in the nine-county Bay Area are uninsured, and that number is bound to climb as recent premium increases drive people off the insurance rolls. Moreover, the average cost for an uncovered emergency room visit is around $2,700 — and if the patient can’t pay, that cost is borne by taxpayers. About 40% of Californians are burdened with medical debt, which puts some at risk of homelessness. Many people are one medical emergency away from losing everything.
In 2025, the Order of Malta Clinic recorded nearly 6,000 patient visits, its busiest year ever — a clear indicator of rising demand. Patients come not only from the East Bay but from around the greater Bay Area and Northern California. Some haven’t seen a doctor in years, whether for a checkup or a chronic condition, out of fear of the cost. Others are undocumented families who are wary of hospitals. The clinic serves anyone lacking insurance, regardless of immigration status. The clinic also sees a growing number of people who are employed, but nonetheless uninsured. By eliminating one of the biggest expenses in all these people’s lives, the clinic helps them free up money for food and rent — helping prevent hunger and homelessness.
“What stood out immediately was the culturally sensitive environment and the gratitude of patients, many of whom hadn’t seen a physician in years,” says Ramandeep Kaur, a volunteer medical assistant at the clinic. “Every patient is treated with dignity and respect.”
Volunteers make it possible
Aside from a handful of paid administrative staff, all the physicians, practitioners and nurses who work at the clinic are volunteers — more than 65 in all. They range from retired doctors with decades of experience to newly minted residents just starting their careers at leading Bay Area hospitals. They include both primary care providers as well as specialists in 14 fields — cardiology, urology, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, psychiatry and more. And their services extend beyond the clinic’s walls, with monthly mobile mammography clinics, podiatry outreach events for the homeless, and telemedicine. A free mobile dental clinic will soon be offering services twice a month.
All these professionals share a sense of purpose and satisfaction in serving patients in need.
“Volunteering at the Order of Malta Clinic allows practitioners like myself to recognize the value of the precious gift that we all have to give,” says Dr. Andy Moyce, a retired ear, nose and throat specialist. “We, in return, receive personal satisfaction and often a needed boost in motivation for our chosen field.”
While medical groups and hospitals typically impose strict time limits on patient visits, volunteers at the Order of Malta Clinic are able to spend time to truly understand their patients’ concerns, unhurried and unconstrained by budgets and bureaucracy.
Between the clinic’s volunteer model and operating efficiencies, its internal cost of treating patients is about $120 per visit — a fraction of the cost of urgent or emergency care, and never charged to the patient.
A legacy of caring
Since its founding as a religious order nearly 1,000 years ago, caring for the sick in ancient Jerusalem, the Order of Malta has adhered to its guiding creed of “Upholding human dignity and caring for people in need.”
Today, the clinic is funded almost entirely by philanthropic gifts and foundation grants. The clinic also has partnerships with Sutter Health, Stanford Medicine, John Muir Health, Mayo Clinic and others.
Appropriately, the Order of Malta Clinic is located on the site of The Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland — standing as a true beacon of hope for those without health insurance. And yes, it really is free.
