10 Tibetan patients to receive free treatment in Beijing

(ECNS) -- A total of 10 patients from Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China’s Sichuan Province arrived in Beijing on Monday to receive free surgical treatments for congenital heart disease, scoliosis, and other illnesses.

Among the patients, the oldest one was 22 years old and the youngest only 9 months old. They will accept treatment at the First Hospital of Tsinghua University, the Peking University First Hospital, the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and the Beijing Anzhen Hospital.

Zhang Chaoji, a doctor of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said the hospital would evaluate the heart malformations through cardiac ultrasound and CT for nine-year old Nima and then determine the surgical plan. Regular post-operative reviews can be done at local hospitals in Nima’s hometown, said Zhang.

“I am lucky to be able to come to Beijing for treatment,” said 22-year-old Tashi who has suffered scoliosis for more than 10 years. The young man looks forward to visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City after recovery.

Their trip and treatment cost were paid by a welfare project launched by a foundation with a focus on medical philanthropy based in Beijing. The project has provided over 500,000 times of medical volunteer services for people of all ethnic groups from border and economically underdeveloped regions.