In the path of the trailblazing barefoot doctors

Several qualified young people have joined the team recently, enabling staff to finally have a regular day off every week since last year, and two more will join the team in a year or two.

However, people tend to retire earlier in plateau regions such as Tuoding township, and many qualified people are keen to seek opportunities in larger hospitals in the cities, exacerbating the problem of doctor shortages.

Yu says her job is highly stressful, and she particularly fears the risk of medical accidents, and the possible indemnity and disputes.

Unlike in the case of licensed doctors, it was not until April that the government of Dechen Tibet autonomous prefecture, to which the township belongs, adopted a policy aimed at improving village health workers' remuneration and setting out their pension and health insurance benefits.

However, Yu says she feels luckier than her fellow villagers although it is hard to be a medical worker at the grassroots.

"People respect us. On hearing my patients say 'Oh doctor, you're here', all the exhaustion slips from my mind."