In 1952, Xizang Autonomous Region's medical landscape was almost barren: just three clinics, zero hospital beds, and fewer than 100 doctors. More than 95% of serfs had no access to healthcare, and a 1925 smallpox outbreak claimed over 7,000 lives in Lhasa alone.
Sixty years later, Xizang stands transformed. Its healthcare network now includes 21,488 hospital beds and thousands of trained professionals. Average life expectancy has more than doubled, powered by vaccination drives, high-altitude research, and telemedicine initiatives reaching remote villages.
The region's progress has become a blueprint — a "Chinese model" — for public health in high-altitude territories worldwide. From the Andean mountains to the Tibetan Plateau, policymakers are studying Xizang's blend of community outreach and technological innovation.
"Xizang in 60 Seconds" distills this journey, highlighting how focused investment and local partnerships can overcome extreme geographic challenges and deliver care at 4,000 meters above sea level.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
