Doctors from Hunan province on rotation in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, offer free consultations at the Bostan township health center in Toksun county on July 25. ZHU YOUFANG/CHINA DAILY

Regular free clinics in rural Turpan in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region are increasingly benefiting local residents and grassroots medical staff members alike.

The initiatives in recent years to strengthen grassroots services are carried out under a paired medical assistance program linking Central China's Hunan province with the Xinjiang city. A total of 535 Hunan doctors have rotated through Turpan since 1998.

Since 2021, visiting Hunan doctors have made more than 400 visits to villages and grassroots communities for free clinics and medication distribution, and dealt with 45,000 inquiries.

On July 25, Kahriman Rexat, 59, arrived early at the Bostan township health center in Toksun county for a free clinic. Diagnosed two years ago with hydronephrosis and kidney stones, along with severe high blood pressure, he has undergone three surgeries.

That day, Xie Yu, a urological surgery specialist from Hunan Cancer Hospital and visiting deputy director of Turpan People's Hospital, examined the patient and offered targeted advice.

"The doctor said I should have regular checkups, and I can do that right here, no need to travel all the way to Urumqi," says Kahriman Rexat.

At the Ximen village clinic in Gaochang district, 70-year-old Rezwangul Abdurahman had her blood pressure and blood sugar checked on July 24. She appreciated the well-equipped facility and the availability of medication for chronic conditions like high blood pressure.

Aliya Shatar, a village doctor for seven years, says the clinic acquired an ultrasound machine and an electrocardiograph in 2021 with Hunan's financial support and expanded its medicine varieties and stock.

Free clinics are now held every Saturday, with doctors of different specialties taking turns. Villagers are notified in advance via a WeChat group and a loudspeaker. For patients who are not able to come in person, visiting doctors will set aside a slot to see them at home. When serious conditions are detected, doctors provide their name cards so that patients can follow up with them for further treatment.

The village, home to more than 3,000 residents, now records about 5,000 outpatient visits annually, primarily for routine chronic disease management such as high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease, as well as common ailments like colds and digestive disorders.

Aliya Shatar says she has also improved her own skills through free clinics, observing and learning from her Hunan counterparts. The mechanism also offers a means to reach out and consult them when facing challenges.

Strengthened regional coordination across Turpan's medical institutions is also reflected in Gaochang District People's Hospital, which benefits from improved digital facilities and remote consultation services.

Doctors from Hunan province on rotation in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, offer free consultations at the Bostan township health center in Toksun county on July 25. ZHU YOUFANG/CHINA DAILY

Through this system, which was launched several months ago and will be optimized gradually through practical application, patients can undergo imaging tests at 11 town or township health centers closer to home. The images are then transmitted via the digital network to the district hospital, where specialists review them and provide remote diagnoses.

Chen Wenhao, the hospital's visiting director from Hunan, notes that for a district where most residents are farmers, the priority is to enable them to receive quality treatment at less expense.

"This allows patients to avoid long trips, while accessing the expertise of higher-level hospitals at the cost of grassroots healthcare, saving both time and money," Chen says.

Ouyang Yu, visiting director of Turpan People's Hospital and head of the newest batch of 58 Hunan doctors rotating in the city, which arrived in late May, says that alongside free clinics, they have also launched a series of initiatives, including health lectures, public first-aid training and systematic health advice covering diet, exercise and daily routines targeting common local conditions.

They are also expanding screening programs for children's congenital heart disease and rolling out a one-stop checkup service integrating children's weight, vision, spine, oral health and mental well-being, he adds.

Zhu Youfang in Turpan, Xinjiang, and Mao Weihua in Urumqi contributed to this story.