Medical care facilities in mainland China are currently unable to cope with demand. Illness often leads to poverty, and poverty leads to illness. New philanthropic efforts need to be focused on helping provincial governments develop healthcare systems that will ensure both young and old can afford proper and timely medical care.

The Foundation is very supportive of the mainland’s rural healthcare program, and is collaborating with the China Health and Medical Development Foundation and the Shaanxi Provincial Government to establish 100 medical clinics in four impoverished regions. A special unit has also been set up to work on specific areas of need:

Establish medical clinics and significantly improve facilities in rural medical clinics to provide emergency care, diagnostics, physicals, treatment, surgery, prevention, pharmacy services, and basic living quarters for medical staff

Establish a special training fund to provide professional training for medical staff

Establish a program to reward outstanding medical staff and volunteer workers

This project complements the aims of the Foundation’s “Caring is Hip” program, a model of viable and sustainable medical practice for impoverished rural residents, and can be considered to be an extension of “Caring is Hip” beyond the Guangdong Province.