HealthMercy · Nonprofit platform
For Donors — How Donating Works
Your donation goes straight to the hospital bill. Volunteer consultations are free. When a patient needs hospital care they cannot afford, you choose a case and pay the hospital directly. HealthMercy never collects, holds or processes your donation and takes no fee.
Before a case reaches you
Patients verify their email and complete a profile for admin eligibility review. A consultation case is reviewed before a verified volunteer doctor takes it on. The doctor assesses the patient and, where hospital care is needed, requests financial support with the reason and estimated cost.
A case is made available for funding after the relevant review and approval. You can read the case and the reason support is needed before deciding whether to help.
Choose a case you want to support
Create a free donor account and complete your profile. Set your giving preferences and review matching cases. Assigning yourself to a case lets you learn more and communicate with the patient and care team before committing support.
You choose each case yourself and are not obligated to donate simply because you registered. More than one donor can contribute to the same case.
Commit an amount: a promise, not a payment
A commitment records the amount you intend to contribute toward the hospital bill. For example, you could promise $20 toward a $100 bill, while other donors help with the remainder. No money is charged or transferred through HealthMercy.
Review the actual treatment and hospital bill with the care team before arranging payment. The amount required depends on the individual case.
Pay the hospital, then record your support
The care team coordinates a referral with a hospital near the patient or through a hospital registered on HealthMercy. You pay the hospital directly for the patient’s care, never the patient or HealthMercy.
After paying, record the amount in your HealthMercy account. The patient is notified and can confirm the support received. Confirmed support is reflected in your contribution record. HealthMercy is a coordination and recordkeeping platform, not a payment processor.
Feedback and recognition
Patients can thank donors with ratings, reviews and reward points. Points are recognition for your support and have no cash value. As points accumulate, donors can earn award badges and certificates.
Your profile provides a record of the cases you supported. Profile privacy and anonymity options are available in your account.
Questions before you help?
HealthMercy is a nonprofit platform that connects patients who cannot afford medical care with volunteer doctors and donors who help pay hospital bills directly to the hospital.
Contact info@healthmercy.org or +27 61 197 9769 for questions about becoming a donor or using the platform. HealthMercy is based in Cape Town, South Africa; CIPC registration 2025/748638/08.