Detroit resident Milton Lomax, a 75-year-old retired railroad worker, has experienced firsthand the burden of high healthcare costs in the United States. After suffering an eye injury that required ongoing care, he said treatment and prescription medications seemed out of reach.
“The prices are exorbitant,” Lomax said. “I can’t afford my medication. It’s ridiculous.”
Lomax’s plight is not unique. According to a study by the Altarum Healthcare Value Hub, 57% of adults in Michigan experienced medical financial stress in 2021, and 78% worried about not being able to afford future medical expenses.
State data show that in 2017, nearly one-third of Michigan residents aged 19 to 64 skipped prescription medications due to cost.
Lomax’s predicament stems from Malta Dental and Medical Clinic in Detroit. This nonprofit, faith-based organization provides low-cost or free healthcare to uninsured or underinsured patients, covering everything from prescription drugs to dental and vision services.
Detroit’s Safety Net
The clinic fills a critical gap: According to the “Detroit Future City 2024” report, 7% of Detroit’s total population and 21% of its Latino/Hispanic population lack health insurance.
Since opening in 2004, the Malta Clinic has served over 20,000 low-income residents. Each year, the clinic assists approximately 800 patients, providing an average of 75 dentures or partials, 50 pairs of glasses, and 440 prescriptions.
Founded by the Malta Catholic Church at the invitation of Bishop Thomas Gambleton, the clinic was originally located in the basement of St. Leo’s Church on Grand River Avenue. The clinic is still supported by grants, private donations, and over 300 volunteer physicians, dentists, and students.
Expanding Care and Services
In April, the Malta Clinic relocated from its North End location in Detroit to a larger facility at 10301 Woodward Avenue, formerly a CVS pharmacy.
The clinic, which shares office space with Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, now also offers a food pantry, clothing storage, and social services. The relocation is expected to increase patient capacity by 25-30%.
The clinic is currently undergoing renovations to create four new dental offices, two medical suites, and three vision exam rooms, with completion expected by the end of the year.
The clinic added vision services in 2022, and due to high demand, a dermatology clinic is scheduled to open this month. There are also plans to add a podiatry clinic in the future.
Dr. Gerald Stephen, a volunteer dentist who has maintained a private practice in Rochester Hills for over 40 years, says he treats every Malta Clinic patient with the same respect as he would his own.
“We do everything we can to support oral health,” Stephen says. “We listen, communicate, and invite patients to participate in treatment discussions. Everyone deserves dignity.”
Recruiting Volunteers
As the clinic grows, the biggest challenge is recruiting more medical professionals. Medical Director Dr. Edward Jelenek II emphasized the need for a continuous supply of volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, and pharmacists.
“Even if a doctor or dentist comes in just one day a month, it makes a huge difference,” Jelenek said.
For residents like Lomax, the Malta Dental Clinic represents hope in a healthcare system that remains unaffordable.