Dozens of nurses, optometrists, dentists and doctors will be at the O’Malley Sports Center in Anchorage this weekend offering medical exams, new glasses, vaccines, teeth cleanings and other services — all free of charge.
The event is sponsored by the Mountain View Lions Club Foundation with help from a national nonprofit, Remote Area Medical. It begins at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and runs until around 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
No health insurance, or even an ID, is required to access the clinic services, said Anchorage optometrist Patrick Campaign, who helped bring the event to the city as a way to address the high costs of health care around the state.
The clinic will offer routine primary care, dental and vision exams, glasses that are made on site for people with a prescription, blood and lab work and STI screenings, Campaign said.
The nonprofit has also partnered with Providence Health Foundation, the Alaska Department of Health and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority to offer vaccines and help accessing mental and behavioral health specialists and resources on site.
Remote Area Medical Services was founded in 1985 with the goal of bringing free health care services domestically, and has served over 900,000 patients since its inception.
The clinic is first come, first served, and includes more than health care 100 providers.
The nonprofit will also offer a similar pop-up clinic in Fairbanks from April 22 to 23 at Ryan Middle School.
The Anchorage health clinic will be held at 11051 O’Malley Centre Drive, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 15, and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16. Walk-ins only.