URUMQI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Free health checks and heavy investment in health in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have benefited the public, regional health authorities have said.
A new round of health checks in the region is currently underway. In September 2016, free health checks were started to be offered to all Xinjiang residents. The expenses are covered by the government.
In the past two years, the region spent 3 billion yuan (about 460 million U.S. dollars) on free health checks, and 36 million tests have been performed.
Starting from this year, more tests, including X rays, were added to help doctors diagnose tuberculosis.
"Local health authorities are responsible to help arrange treatment for people whose health problems are revealed by the checks. Some are transferred to better hospitals if necessary," said Guo Weijiang, director of the grassroots health department in the regional health commission.
Last year, special rural health programs were launched to finance the treatment of major ailments such as child leukemia and congenital heart disease.
Meanwhile, over 1,84 million medical kits were given free to rural residents in southern Xinjiang. The kits consisted of first-aid medicine, painkillers and cold remedies.
Peng Yong, deputy director of regional health commission, said green channels were offered to rural patients to ensure that they received timely and effective treatment at relatively low expense.
