Xizang's maternal, infant mortality rates at record low

LHASA -- Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region has seen its death rate of women in childbirth and the infant mortality rate drop to record lows, according to a press conference held by the regional people's government on Friday.

Since the peaceful liberation of Xizang in 1951, maternal and child health services in the region have witnessed significant improvement. The death rate of women in childbirth dropped to 38.63 per 100,000 in 2023 from 5,000 per 100,000 in 1951, while the infant mortality rate fell to 5.37 per 1,000 from 430 per 1,000, according to Tan Xiangdong, deputy director of the regional health commission.

With the assistance of medics from 184 hospitals from across the country, medical treatment levels in the departments of obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and emergency care, as well as clinical laboratory diagnostics and anesthesia in the region have improved rapidly.

At present, there are 1,821 medical and health institutions in Xizang. The number of practicing physicians per 1,000 people has increased to 3.34, and the telemedicine service platform now covers every township in the region.