The Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Hualien was opened to the public on August 17, 1986. It was the first hospital in Taiwan that did not require a security deposit from patients, thus making medical care available for any number of poor people. All patients are treated equally at the hospital. The hospital’s social services finds ways to pay for poor patients. The hospital also refers any short and long-term needy patients to the Tzu Chi Foundation.

　　While all patients receive treatment from the latest, most sophisticated medical equipment, they also enjoy attentive care and sincere blessings from Tzu Chi people. Respect for patients’ feelings and a humanitarian attitude in medical treatment have made Tzu Chi General Hospital a model hospital.

　　The hospital has invested a great deal of money in purchasing the most modern medical equipment. It has also extended its medical care, including blood pressure tests and follow-up services, to nearby communities. The hospital has organized an outpatient service team composed of doctors, nurses, and volunteers. The team pays regular visits to patients at home, does follow-up services, and teaches health care classes in the communities.

　　Since Tzu Chi General Hospital was promoted to a medical center in recent years, it has elevated its medical standards and taken the responsibility of educating students to become excellent doctors and nurses. Medical and nursing students follow medical ethics and learn from the attending physicians and senior nursing staff. They grow up in a hospital environment nurtured by love, compassion, and joyous giving. No matter where their future lies, they will inherently go on to become “buddhas” of medicine and nursing.

　　The hospital currently has a total of 926 beds, including 651 general beds, 69 ICU beds, 8 burn care beds, 4 bone marrow transplant beds, and other special beds. There are 250 doctors, 670 nurses, 320 medical technicians, and 380 administrative personnel members. The hospital treats approximately 1,440 outpatients, 650 inpatients, and 140 emergency patients a day. (The aforementioned data is based on information as of January 2003). Being the only medical center in eastern Taiwan, the hospital is the central base in eastern Taiwan's emergency medical network and is also the referral center for mass-injured patients.