China News Service:

On this trip to Xizang, I have seen the prosperity and development of Lhasa and its beautiful scenery, but I also experienced altitude sickness caused by its high altitude and low air pressure. For those who live in Xizang long-term, the unique conditions can have a certain impact on their health. What work has been done to ensure the people's health? Thank you.

Gama Cedain:

I'd like to invite Mr. Xu to answer your question.

Xu Zhitao:

Thank you for your question. As the reporter mentioned, Xizang's high altitude means that people can be prone to some chronic diseases and altitude-related illnesses. The CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to the health of the people in Xizang, and called for the establishment of plateau medical research centers and national plateau disease medical centers in relevant documents. General Secretary Xi Jinping also emphasized at an important meeting the need to develop and promote new medical devices and technologies suitable for high-altitude regions. The regional Party committee and government have implemented the requirements of the central authorities and carried out work in the following several aspects:

First, we strengthened overall planning. In response to prominent problems such as the frequent occurrence of high-altitude diseases, relatively underdeveloped diagnosis and treatment capabilities as well as people's imbalanced dietary habits, the regional Party committee made deployment on implementing eight health actions and introduced a series of specific measures to advance the Healthy Xizang Initiative.

Second, we continuously improved the layout of medical resources. Given Xizang's vast, sparsely populated terrain, we have invested heavily to establish a five-tiered health service network at the region, prefecture, county, township and village levels. Local patients can now receive effective treatment for over 400 major diseases within the region, over 2,400 moderate diseases within the prefecture-level administrative units where they live, and most minor diseases at township-level hospitals. Additionally, by using smart medical means, the "internet plus health care" initiative was advanced to ensure remote medical services reach all public hospitals at and above the township level. 

Third, we enhanced the capacity for guaranteeing health services. From 2015, 203 hospitals from 17 paired-up provinces and municipalities directly under the central government selected and dispatched more than 2,000 experts to work in teams in Xizang's health system at various levels, helping to train local health care professionals and improve diagnosis and treatment capability in the region. With national support, we have actively developed new medical and health care technologies and devices suitable for the high-altitude environment. We have established the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Center (Tibetan Medicine) and a national regional medical center. In 2025, the annual health check-up subsidy for local people will increase to 164 yuan per person, basically achieving full coverage of health examination expenses for both urban and rural residents. Dietary guidelines for residents of high-altitude areas have been released. Since its peaceful liberation in 1951, the population of Xizang has increased from approximately 1 million to 3.7 million. The maternal and infant mortality rates have dropped significantly, and the average life expectancy has reached its highest level in history. Thank you.