Increased Life Expectancy, Improved Health Indicators, and Expanded Medical Facilities

Xizang's Healthcare Sector Sees Historic Improvement

The health of residents in the Xizang autonomous region has reached an all-time high, thanks to dedicated funding and medical aid projects. This was announced by authorities on Friday, highlighting the significant progress made in the region's healthcare sector.

Over the past three decades, various medical aid programs have been implemented in Xizang. These programs include partnerships with more developed provinces, dispatching medical groups and renowned professionals from major hospitals to Xizang, and investing over 30 billion yuan ($4.14 billion) into boosting the region's healthcare development.

As a result, the average life expectancy in Xizang has increased by nearly six years over the past decade. Key health indicators, such as the mortality rates for pregnant women and infants and toddlers, have also dropped significantly.

The number of medical institutions in Xizang has increased from less than 1,200 to over 1,800, with hospital beds increasing from 5,600 to 22,000. The number of physicians per 1,000 population has also increased from 1.9 to 3.3.

Remote diagnosis and treatment platforms have been established in every rural clinic, improving local medical capabilities. This has led to the ability to treat over 400 types of major illnesses, including pediatric leukemia and giant intracranial aneurysm, within Xizang. Additionally, more than 2,000 types of severe diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction and strokes, can now be resolved locally.

Previously, the county hospital in Driru county, located at an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, had limited resources and capabilities. However, thanks to continuous medical assistance, the hospital now has 224 medical staff, 29 clinical departments, and the ability to perform minimally invasive procedures.

Incidence rates of infectious diseases endemic to Xizang, such as echinococcosis and Kashin-Beck disease, have fallen to a historic low. Free cancer screening programs and free vaccinations against human papillomavirus vaccines have also been implemented.

"All key health indicators for residents in Xizang have reached a historic high, and the proportion of out-of-pocket health expenditures to total expenses has decreased below 10 percent," said Guo Luo, deputy director of Xizang's health commission.

Moving forward, authorities will focus on improving the capabilities of local hospitals, especially in urgently needed clinical specialties such as gynecology and obstetrics and emergency care. Efforts will also be made to accelerate the use of information technologies and remote diagnosis platforms to provide convenient and high-quality medical services to residents in far-flung areas. Additionally, the commission will support more local medical workers in Xizang to study and practice in more developed regions.