Tibetans get a taste of Western medical practice
Print Edition
With his medical report in hand, Sangmo Dongyeltso, 44, a Tibetan monk from northwest China’s Gansu Province, feels more secure about his health.
“I asked the doctor to write my report as detailed as possible, so that I can bring it back to my Tibetan doctor for reference,” he said.
Sponsored by the local government, nearly 100 Tibetan monks in Machu County have received free medical check-ups in the provincial capital of Lanzhou, 300 kilometers away.
Lying on the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Machu in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is one of China’s most underdeveloped areas. Due to poor transport infrastructure, a patient has to transfer four buses to get to Lanzhou for more medical treatment.
Machu has 11 temples with over 2,000 monks in residence. This was the first organized medical examination program specifically for them, according to Kunga from the county government.
Tenzin Jamtso, 56, never knew his height or weight before. During his first check-up, which lasted four hours, he was given a blood test, an ultrasound and other tests, and was diagnosed with cataracts and high total cholesterol.
In the past, Tenzin usually went to see Tibetan doctors in temple health centers, and the county people’s hospital was as far as he had traveled.
“Western medicine features detailed physical examinations, while traditional Tibetan medicine has always been suitable for me,” he said.
Tibetan monks live in high altitude areas and have different dietary habits, which can lead to high incidences of digestive tract and rheumatic diseases.
Mi Denghai, president of No. 2 People’s Hospital of Gansu Province, once worked in Gannan to help local doctors to improve skills. He said that Tibetan monks rarely get medical check-ups due to a lack of health awareness and backward medical conditions.
Since 2015, 10 top level hospitals in the provincial capital have been paired with 10 county and prefecture level hospitals in the Tibetan regions of Gansu to improve local medical and health services.
“We hope to offer free check-ups for them, so as to achieve full coverage of health care for all people living in the area,” Mi said.
Zhao Shengtang, head of the county health authority, said the local government has set aside funds to provide a free yearly check-up for all Tibetan monks, and medical care for their future treatment.
“Combining traditional Tibetan and Western medicine has gradually become a better choice for both patients and doctors,” said Wang Tuansheng, president of Machu People’s Hospital.
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