Hospital-on-wheels enters 72 counties of Tibet

Hospital-on-wheels enters 72 counties of Tibet

At a handover ceremony held in the Potala Palace on August 2, health workers from 72 counties of Tibet received 72 mobile clinics given by the central government. These vehicles, with a total value of 1,656 million yuan (about 200.24 million US dollars) will soon be put into use.

These vehicles are of good performance and suitable for plateau. They are equipped with respirator, ECG, portable type-B ultrasonic machine and hospital bed, within which doctors could diagnose common diseases and conduct minor operations.

Tibet is the area to receive the biggest number of mobile clinics from the central government compared with other areas of relatively backward economy, a local health official said. These mobile clinics are expected to help improve the overall health level of Tibetan farmers and herdsmen, especially those in remote and poverty regions through regular health-care trips, and help to prevent local and infectious diseases as well as spread hygiene knowledge among local people.

The local health department will set up standards and strengthen supervision to ensure that these vehicles are used properly and continuously.

The state has in recent years put in huge fund to improve hygiene facilities in Tibet, said Cui Yuying, vice-chairman of the autonomous region. Currently Tibet possesses 1,305 medicinal institutions of various kinds, 6,216 hospital beds and 8,287 health workers, which can basically meet the medicinal needs of the local public. Compared with half a century ago, Tibet has seen sharp decline of its maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate, as well as occurrence of all kinds of infectious diseases. The average life expectancy of Tibetans has been raised from 35.5 to 67.

By People's Daily Online