Original Title: Ngari Prefecture in Tibet Continuously Improves Medical Service Capabilities
Remote Areas Now Have Top-Tier Hospitals (On the Front Lines of the “15th Five-Year Plan”)
Optimize the functional positioning and layout of medical institutions, and improve the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system.
— Excerpt from the “15th Five-Year Plan” Outline
Not long ago, a doctor received a phone call in the early hours of the morning — “This is Gêrzê County, we have a myocardial infarction patient who needs to be transferred today.”
Gêrzê County in Ngari Prefecture is over 400 kilometers from Gar County, where the Ngari Prefecture People’s Hospital is located, a drive of six to seven hours. The doctor assisted physicians at Gêrzê County People’s Hospital via network to perform emergency intravenous thrombolysis for the patient. After two hours of emergency treatment, the patient’s vital signs gradually stabilized, creating conditions for long-distance transport.
After the patient was transferred to Ngari Prefecture People’s Hospital, it was discovered that the situation was more complex than anticipated: the patient not only had heart issues but also a severe lung infection. The doctors decided to first control the infection and then proceed with surgery. In the following days, continuous treatment was provided, finally making the patient eligible for surgery.
Subsequently, a stent implantation surgery was performed. Ultimately, a stent was precisely implanted into the blocked area of the patient’s heart blood vessel, and the surgery was successful.
“In 2025, we cumulatively performed over 60 similar surgeries, and the related techniques have become increasingly mature. In addition, we have successively introduced a series of new technologies such as leadless pacemakers and enhanced external counterpulsation therapy for cardiac rehabilitation.”
The improvement in cardiovascular disease treatment capability is a microcosm of the hospital’s changes. Relying on the process of establishing a top-tier (Grade A, Class 3) hospital, Ngari Prefecture People’s Hospital, based on local medical needs, has introduced expert talent and focused on building a number of departments, effectively enhancing local medical service capabilities. By the end of 2025, Ngari Prefecture People’s Hospital successfully became a top-tier hospital, which also means that all 7 prefecture-level cities in Tibet are now equipped with top-tier hospitals.
The process of establishing a top-tier hospital is also one of continuous improvement of various systems. “Previously, much of the hospital’s work relied on experience, with insufficient emphasis on standardized systems.”
To address this, coordination was specifically undertaken to integrate the medical staff of Ngari Prefecture People’s Hospital into an online training system, offering a series of courses related to top-tier hospital systems and standards.
Data shows that the outpatient volume at Ngari Prefecture People’s Hospital in the fourth quarter of 2025 increased by 18.2% compared to the same period the previous year. “The increase in patient numbers reflects growing trust. A top-tier hospital signifies a higher platform, better resource allocation, and also presents higher demands, which in turn drives hospital workers to continuously improve their skills to meet public expectations.”
