CIIE's spillover effects reach as far as Tibet

I would never have imagined that the residents of Tibet, a remote region in China, could receive first-class medical treatment at a local hospital, but the China International Import Expo has made this possible.

I was born in Northwest China's Gansu province and became a radiologist at the Tibet Fokind Hospital in 2012 out of a love for Tibetan culture and concern over the healthcare services in the region. I have since been responsible for doing CT scans, digital radiography (DR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients.

Fokind is a leading private hospital in Lhasa that is equipped with medical diagnostic devices such as CT scanners. However, people with complex medical conditions still needed to travel to hospitals in Chengdu, Sichuan province for treatment.

In 2020, Fokind made significant progress in improving its facilities when it purchased a vehicle-mounted CT system from Siemens Healthineers at the third CIIE. The mobile CT solution features more advanced CT scan technologies and allows for 5G-enabled remote consultations with experts from leading hospitals in developed regions of China. In addition, we can drive the system to distant parts of Tibet to offer medical services to more people.

The CT system arrived in Lhasa on Dec 14, 2020, and we immediately took it to Lhokha city. During the visit, we found that the system can produce clearer images and is even capable of understanding voice commands given in the Tibetan language. We also had a consult with experts from the West China Hospital in Sichuan province.

Soon after, Fokind cooperated with Siemens Healthineers again to connect MRI equipment to the 5G network. These cutting-edge technologies have greatly improved our treatment capabilities and allowed patients to complete examinations in just two hours and receive treatment in time.

On July 27, 2021, which marked the 100-day countdown to the fourth CIIE, Fokind started a free medical activity on the 5G-enabled CT vehicle. In Nagchu, a city with harsh natural conditions and located at around 4,500 meters above sea level, many locals crowded around the CT scanner in awe. I told them the system was introduced to Tibet because of the CIIE.

We later organized many such activities in villages and border posts. Many medical images of high-altitude illnesses specific to Tibet were collected to help with scientific research. The mobile CT scanner was also used to diagnose COVID-19 cases during local outbreaks.

I hope the CIIE can be even more successful in the following years and bring more new technologies and services to Tibet.