CHINA / National

China boosts medical supply for high altitude army
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-24 09:14

China's military authority has quadrupled medicine supplies to the military stationed at high altitude areas to combat high altitude sickness that troubled many soldiers.

According to Sunday's People's Liberation Army Daily, the standard of medical aids for each of soldiers and officers stationed at the areas of 3,000 meters above sea level has been raised to 255.28 yuan (about 31.9 US dollars) per year.

Previously, the standard was 34 yuan for soldiers and 126 yuan for officers, the paper quoted sources with the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army as saying.

China's high altitude army are mainly stationed at Tibet Autonomous Region, western Qinghai Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the southwestern Yunnan Province.

Medicines for combating high altitude sickness had been increased for supply after the standard raise. A new skin care product was also provided for soldiers to prevent excessive ultraviolet radiation, officers with the logistics department said.

In addition, the military authority planned to equip army in Tibet and Xinjiang with small-sized portable oxygen suppliers. The military hospitals for army in Tibet will also be supplied with a series of facilities to handle emergencies.

All the medicines and equipments will available to the army before September, the military source said.