Vastly improved healthcare services have had a transformative effect over the last decade in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, where medical expertize combined with advanced equipment and sophisticated technology have had a life-changing impact on many patients and helped residents enjoy better all-round medical care.
Nearly 2,000 medical experts from 184 hospitals nationwide have assisted the development of healthcare services in Xizang since August 2015, according to the regional health commission. Over the past nine years, hospital healthcare services have covered all six cities and one prefecture across the region, with the number of out-patients doubling and the recovery rate of critical patients close to 90 percent.
Currently, the maternal mortality rate in the region is 38.63 per 100,000 people, the infant mortality rate is 5.37 per 1,000, the hospital delivery rate is 99.15 percent, and the average life expectancy is 72.19 years -- with all these indicators at the best levels in Xizang's history.
Recent success stories include the heartwarming tale of a pair of fraternal twins recently born to a mother who had faced a complicated pregnancy and labor. The healthy arrival and growth of the twins symbolizes triumph over adversity, after potentially life-threatening challenges were overcome during childbirth.
These difficulties were expertly managed by staff at the Changdu City People's Hospital, which is now equipped with a critical obstetric care center established with assistance from medical teams from China's southwestern municipality of Chongqing.
"The boy weighs 4.5 kg, and the girl 4 kg. They are both healthy, and we are all very happy," said the mother Kunsong Tsomo.
"Twin delivery surgeries do carry higher risks. But as I've performed twin deliveries at our hospital, so whenever there are twins or triplets, I usually handle the surgery myself. The greatest joy for a doctor is seeing the mother and child safe and sound," said Lan Xia, a member of the 7th Chongqing medical assistance team to Xizang.
So far, this critical obstetrics treatment center has assisted in the delivery of 70 sets of twins, and has even welcomed two sets of triplets.
In late July, Lan Xia completed her mission in Changdu and returned to Chongqing, with a new batch of medical assistance doctors later arriving in Xizang to takeover this key role.
Over the last nine years, the "group-based" medical aid program has established a comprehensive framework covering the entire region, from the main Xizang Autonomous Region People's Hospital, as well the seven municipal-level hospitals and 13 key county hospitals, delivering essential support services to all of these medical institutions.
Meanwhile, surgical robot technology has also been introduced to strong effect, with a high-tech robot that can precisely assist doctors in minimally invasive surgeries being put into use at the Xizang Autonomous Region People's Hospital in 2022, and completing over 160 surgeries in that time so far.
Another step forward has come in the treatment of serious illnesses. Since 2015, 12 top hospitals nationwide, including the Peking Union Medical College Hospital and the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, have sent a total of 330 experts to assist at the Xizang Autonomous Region People's Hospital, the region's leading hospital, ensuring that patients suffering severe ailments can now treated within Xizang.
"We have made great strides in medicine, education, research, and management. We now boast 362 new medical technologies, over 200 research projects from the 'team-based' medical assistance, and many new medical techniques that were previously only available in other provinces and regions are now routinely performed here," said Xu Haifeng, Vice President of the Xizang Autonomous Region People's Hospital.
Another touching example of the progress made and the positive impact of these medical assistance programs comes in the case of 12-year-old Xizang girl Dawa Kela, who is now enjoying life to the full after a successful spinal surgery following years of compassionate care by medical teams who traveled from the city of Shanghai.
Back in June, the recovered Dawa experienced a joyful moment in Shanghai by leading spectators at a Chinese Super League football match in singing the national anthem.
She previously suffered from a severe case of the spinal condition scoliosis and was unable to stand up straight. But, after a six-year, 4,000-kilometer journey of caring medical assistance from Shanghai, she underwent successful correction surgery in March this year, growing 21 centimeters taller and now being able to live her life fully and continue her studies with her peers.
In addition to providing direct medical care, professionals from across the country have also helped local hospitals overcome technical challenges, mentoring the staff of over 1,500 medical teams, and trained over 4,800 local medical personnel, with these efforts leaving behind a lasting legacy of medical expertise to the benefit of the local communities across Xizang.
"Xizang has achieved the goal of treating over 400 types of serious illnesses within the region, over 2,400 types of moderate illnesses at the prefecture-level, and common minor illnesses at the county level. [The parasitic disease] echinococcosis, Kashin–Beck [bone] disease, and other endemic diseases, as well as common illnesses such as congenital heart disease and cataracts, have been effectively controlled or eliminated. The health of women and children in Xizang has also been significantly improved, with the hospitalization rate for pregnant women ready for delivery reaching over 99 percent," said Tan Xiangdong, Party Secretary of the Xizang Autonomous Region Health Commission.
Xizang residents enjoy life-changing benefits of hugely improved healthcare services
