Xinjiang finishes first round of universal health checks

Thanks to the first universal health check in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Mtailipu Rosuli, 65, a Uygur man in Bachu (Maralbexi) County, had his first health examination of his life.

The examination was performed at his home. The regional government sent more than 36,400 health workers to pasture and mountainous areas so that herdsmen and farmers could receive free basic health checks without having to travel far.

"For the first time in my life, I know my height and weight," said Rosuli.

Yin Yulin, head of the Xinjiang health commission, said Xinjiang's first overall health checks covered more than 17.5 million residents. The program lasted more than four months and cost 1.49 billion yuan (216 million U.S. dollars).

Thanks to the health checks, medical staff identified problems in 800,000 blood samples. They have helped 35,000 people make further medical consultations and put more than 20,000 patients into hospitals for treatment.

Yin said Xinjiang will continue the free basic health service in an effort to help the region's public health indicators catch up with the national average by 2020.

He said the second round of universal health checks in the region will be conducted in the second half of the year. Endi