MEDICO's services were not free, even though most of the patients were very poor and could not pay money for the medical treatment. MEDICO wanted the patients to feel served and to be able to give something back for their medical care, so Dooley was often paid in kind, with chickens, eggs, bananas, and other goods. This type of payment helped Dooley and his crew feed themselves, the students, the interpreters, patients, and any family that stayed at the hospital.