Across China: Private hospital brings public benefits to west China

Gong Weiying, 41, has just had an operation on her left kidney in a private hospital in southwest China's Guizhou Province. She had never dreamed of such a thing because her family live in abject poverty.

Gong from Miaoba Village, Wuchuan Gelao and Miao Autonomous County, suffered severe hydronephrosis and ureteral calculus. Her 20-year-old daughter was disabled in a traffic accident. With an annual family income of no more than 20,000 yuan (2,900 U.S. dollars), she could only spare 2,000 yuan on medical treatment.

Had she not had the operation, her left kidney would have lost all function in six months, said Liao Lei, deputy director of the first surgical department of Shenghui Hospital.

"The hospital has made it easy for me and the procedure cost much less than I expected. Otherwise, I would have given up and let it go," she said.

When the hospital learned Gong's difficulties, she was offered a micro-invasive procedure that only cost 3,000 yuan. The hospital helped her raised the 1,000 yuan shortfall.

Shenghui Hospital is the largest private hospital in the province. The non-profit hospital is a center for the treatment of severe and difficult diseases, attracting patients from as far away as Chongqing.

China still has over 55 million rural people living in poverty. The 2016-2020 Five-Year Plan sets the target of reducing that number to zero by 2020, through a targeted action program. By analyzing the local economic and social conditions, the government supports private companies, individuals, NGOs and even the military in carrying out relief plans.

As part of the program, Wuchuan County government offered grants and subsidies to Shenghui Hospital, helping with financing, land acquisition and recruitment of personnel, according to hospital president Fang Bo. The hospital now spends 50,000 to 100,000 yuan each year helping local families in need.

"In the case of patients like Gong Weiying, we simply reduce their costs," said Fang.

Since it opened to the public in June, Shenghui has helped three patients with serious ailments save about 90,000 yuan. Another 20 have had their medical expenses cut by a total of 20,000 yuan.

To reach more rural people, the hospital organizes medical teams to visit villages and provide regular free clinics. It also built two helicopter pads on the top of the building for emergency rescue.

Candidates from poor families are also favored in staff recruitment, with the hospital providing jobs for 68 people from poor households.

The hospital also helps local farmers, providing 30,000 yuan to help buy supplies last spring, and buying their produce. It will provide grants of 200,000 yuan each year to help the poor students pursue higher education.

Jiang Xiaodong is one such student. He entered Chongqing Medical University in September, but his mother's illness used up all the family savings and Jiang was close to giving up college. Shenghui Hospital agreed to give Jiang a bursary of 5,000 yuan each year until he graduates and his future is now secure. Endi