Chozom from Yulmed Town in Lhunze County, Shannan City, held her freshly printed physical examination report and said, "in the past, taking my family for check-ups in the county seatmeant leaving before dawn and spending a whole day on the round trip. Now, we can do it right at the town health center, and doctors even make follow-up home visits. No more hassle on the road."

Under the winter sun on the plateau, light streams through the windows of the Rirong Town Health Center in Lhunze County. In the brand new examination room, several villagers are queuing for ultrasound scans. "Now we don't have to trek over mountains to see a doctor anymore," remarked Dorje, who had just finished his check-up.

Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, Lhunze County has prioritized healthcare development within its strategic planning. Guided by the "125" approach, which focuses on "building one county-level medical center, strengthening two core services, and promoting five major enhancement projects", the county has driven a shift in medical services from "basic provision" towards "high-quality and efficient" care, further fortifying the health defenses for residents in the border areas.

"A sound county-town-village three-tier medical system is the 'first line of defense' for health protection," introduced Zhou Zhou. Currently, the county has established 2 county-level public hospitals, 1 disease control and prevention center, 1 maternal and child health station, 11 town health centers, and 81 village clinics. The total number of hospital beds has reached 134, supported by 417 healthcare professionals.

In Rirong Town, the aid-Xizang team from Changde City, Hunan Province, constructed a standardized health center and staff dormitories. "The old health center had poor conditions, making it hard to retain doctors," said Tashi Pema, a doctor at the center. "Now, with the dormitories solving our accommodation issues, everyone can work with peace of mind."

In recent years, Lhunze County has invested 30 million yuan in aid funds to upgrade the infrastructure of four health centers, including the one in Rirong Town, and six village clinics, such as the one in Xitu Village. This has effectively alleviated the shortage of medical facilities and inpatient facilities.

With the Lhunze County People's Hospital at the forefront, Lhunze County has integrated resources from the County Tibetan Medicine Hospital, the Disease Control Center, and 11 town health centers to create a county-level medical hub. This establishes a layout of "leading hub-driven, multi-pole supported, and county-wide coverage."

Furthermore, through the "integrated" management of a compact medical consortium, Lhunze County has promoted the extension of public health services to the grassroots. The diagnosis and treatment rate for common and frequent diseases within the county now exceeds 95%, significantly reducing the phenomenon of residents traveling to the county seat for minor ailments.

In 2024, the Lhunze County Health Service Center successively established the Shannan City-level Nursing Quality Control Center and the Healthcare-Associated Infection Quality Control Center. By integrating physical examinations for farmers and herders with family doctor contract services to promote a transition towards "whole-cycle health management."

In Taktse Village, Jayul Town, aid-Xizang doctor Tan Jinglong and Tashi Pema, director of the General Medicine Department at Lhunze County People's Hospital, are making their rounds at the home of Sonam Delek. Last year, Sonam Delek went into shock due to acute severe cholangitis and was rushed to the Lhunze County People's Hospital. It was the aid-Xizang doctors who "snatched" her back from the brink of death.

"Everything seems fine now. If you have a stomach ache, take these medicines," said Tan Jinglong after auscultation, examination, and prescribing. He handed the free medication to Sonam Delek, repeatedly reminding her to call immediately if she feels unwell again.

Medical staff like Tan Jinglong regularly carry out the "Five Outreach Visits for Medical Services" activity, which has become almost a household name across Shannan City.

At Lhunze County People's Hospital, aid-Xizang doctors precisely implement mentorship programs. They have trained 22 local medical staff in departments including the laboratory, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency. They paired 17 local doctors with aid-Xizang doctors in master-apprentice relationships. Upon completion, two-way assessments were conducted, recognizing 6 outstanding mentors and 6 outstanding trainees. Data is the best report card, and the smiles of the people are the most genuine sense of achievement.

In 2025, Lhunze County's healthcare achievements were significant. The Lhunze County People's Hospital recorded 37,585 outpatient visits, the Tibetan Medicine Hospital recorded 5,653, town health centers recorded over 36,600, and village clinics served over 11,100 people. The total service volume across the county, town, and village levels exceeded 90,000 visits.

Hardware upgrades have substantially enhanced medical service capabilities. Lhunze County has established a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a disinfection supply room, an infectious disease building, improved blood bank facilities, and procured equipment such as a 64-slice CT scanner and ophthalmic devices. It has also secured funds from various sources to equip town health centers across the county with color Doppler ultrasound systems, defibrillators, and other devices.

In 2022, Lhunze County invested 4 million yuan in an informatization upgrade for the Lhunze County People's Hospital, expanding its telemedicine system to connect with renowned hospitals like Xiangya Hospital in Hunan, thereby sharing high-quality medical resources.

Today, the hardware conditions for medical and healthcare in Lhunze County rank among the top at XizangAutonomous Region's county level. Remote towns like Yulmed, Tsari, Sangngagqoiling, and Rirong have introduced DR equipment. All 11 town health centers have established Tibetan medicine clinics. The goal of "treating minor illnesses within the county and common illnesses within the town" has been largely achieved.

Reporter: Sun Kaiyuan

Translator: Dan Zhen, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Li Chengye