Xizang navigates road to better healthcare

Early detection is key

In Chonggyai, health professionals have developed a system to quickly deal with serious illnesses identified during the health checkups.

Emergency treatment is conducted on-site, while patients with long-term conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, are enrolled in a management system for ongoing care.

"We are forming a closed-loop health management process that prioritizes early detection and intervention," said Pasang Phenthok, adding that routine health checkups can reveal common health problems such as high blood pressure, fatty liver, gallstones, and cardiovascular diseases.

High salt intake in the diets of rural residents, especially from butter tea, is one of the major causes of these conditions.

Efforts to strengthen the medical network span multiple administrative levels. Chonggyai boasts a robust three-tier system at county hospitals, township clinics and village facilities. Currently, 20 village clinics provide medical services that meet national standards.

The mobile health checkup vehicles have become a lifeline for residents in widely dispersed communities, reducing costs and alleviating challenges in obtaining services.

This year, vehicles will be dispatched to seven remote townships for free health checkups, according to the Namling county health commission. The mobile service aims to cover more than 71,800 people. About 23 percent of the checkups have already been completed.

"This program allows for the early detection of problems to prevent severe illnesses and reduce health-related poverty," said Tsetan Drolkar, deputy director of the commission. The goal is to shift from treatment to active prevention, with farmers and herders encouraged to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Screenings tailored for the elderly, women, children and patients with chronic conditions are also improving people's quality of life, and reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in Xizang.

Sogchen Township Branch Hospital in Namling bridges the gap between grassroots patients and more advanced hospitals. Residents of the Tibetan Plateau region often face high-altitude polycythemia, diabetes and echinococcosis, a parasitic infection often transmitted through dog feces.

The hospital maintains a strict diagnostic process for chronic conditions, providing affordable medication to patients and guiding lifestyle adjustments to reduce risks.

Phurbu, a monk at Namling's Dragkar Monastery, recounted how regular checkups helped him detect and manage hypertension and significantly improve his health.

"Around 2021, during a checkup, the doctor advised me to take anti-hypertensive medication long-term. Now, after years of medication, my blood pressure has returned to normal," Phurbu said.

Similarly, Phurbu Tsering, a monk from Chonggyai, praised the benefits of annual health screenings: "These checkups are effective tools that allow for timely treatment and prevention of more severe complications."