Lei Jufang: Dedicated to Tibetan Farmers and Herders, Proposing the Implementation of a New Healthcare Reform

　　Lei Jufang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference who is over the age of knowing one’s destiny and also the chairperson of Tibet Qizheng Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd., has once again entered the Two Sessions. What proposals will she bring this time, and what public voices will she reflect?

　　With her modest attire and serene demeanor, Lei Jufang left a deep impression on media from all walks of life. On the afternoon of March 8—the 100th anniversary of International Working Women’s Day—she was still dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, without a trace of makeup, warmly shaking hands and greeting reporters with a friendly smile, radiating warmth and approachability, just like an amiable aunt next door.

　　“Is it cold enough to freeze you on a snowy day?” This thoughtful greeting instantly melted away the reporter’s chill, filling their heart with warmth.

　　Focus on the healthcare sector

　　As one of hundreds of millions of Chinese women, Lei Jufang has received numerous honors. Yet she strongly objects to linking personal achievements with gender. She says that, in today’s environment, both men and women can strive and make every effort. Over the past six decades, our society has made significant progress in how it treats women; there is no longer any phenomenon in which outstanding talents are suppressed simply because of their gender.

　　In her remarks, Lei Jufang affirmed the current broader social context without showing any sign of feminine fragility. She consistently emphasized that what matters is “people” and their ability to get things done—not merely being a “woman.” Today, she not only offers insights and suggestions at the Two Sessions from a woman’s perspective, but also takes a holistic view of people’s livelihoods, focusing her attention squarely on the healthcare sector.

　　Advocate harnessing the power of ethnic and folk communities.

　　Today, China’s healthcare system reform is underway. Lei Jufang believes that the promotion of the new rural cooperative medical system will greatly transform the current state of rural healthcare in China. However, the implementation of this policy in Tibet still requires a case-by-case analysis of specific issues.

　　This year, she put forward a proposal titled “On Strengthening the Construction of Tibetan Medical Treatment Systems in Tibetan Areas and Improving Healthcare Accessibility in Agricultural and Pastoral Regions” centered around this very issue.

　　She pointed out that if medical personnel from mainland China were sent to build the new rural cooperative medical system in remote areas of Tibet, language and cultural differences, as well as environmental and familial factors, would make it extremely difficult for these medical workers to provide long-term service. As a result, the vast majority of people living in Tibet’s agricultural and pastoral regions would find it hard to truly benefit from the reforms of the healthcare system.

　　To effectively address the pressing issue of difficult medical access for farmers and herders in Tibetan areas, Lei Jufang proposed, from a holistic perspective, that Tibet’s healthcare reform requires two key forces: First, strong financial support from the central government to increase medical subsidies for farmers and herders; second, harnessing human resources by leveraging the power of ethnic and folk traditions in agricultural and pastoral regions. For instance, in Tibetan areas, we should rely on the strength of Tibetan medicine, while in Mongolian areas, we should draw on the expertise of Mongolian medicine.

　　In this year’s proposal, she put forward specific and feasible measures across five different levels. When asked by a reporter about the likelihood of her proposal being implemented this year, she smiled warmly and said, “No matter how small the chance may seem, we’ve got to raise the issue—there’s bound to come a day when it’s resolved!” Her determined gaze told the reporter that she would continue working on this initiative.

　　It is recommended to refine the entry threshold for physicians.

　　Lei Jufang has long been concerned about the medical care and healthcare access of Tibetan farmers and herders. During the 2009 Two Sessions, she put forward a proposal to integrate traditional folk healers into the basic healthcare system in agricultural and pastoral areas. When asked by a reporter about the implementation status of this proposal, she shook her head with a hint of helplessness, saying, “Some regions have made certain progress in implementing it, but the coverage is still not thorough enough.”

　　Lei Jufang pointed out that the current standards for obtaining physician qualifications in China do not fully take into account the diversity and specific characteristics of traditional Chinese ethnic medicine. The expertise of folk Tibetan doctors is primarily concentrated on the study and understanding of traditional Tibetan medical knowledge, as well as on using traditional Tibetan medicinal preparations to treat common and frequently occurring diseases. They have very limited knowledge of Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and their proficiency in Chinese is generally low, making it extremely difficult for them to pass the current “physician” examination. The more experienced and highly skilled veteran doctors are precisely those who find it hardest to pass the exam and obtain medical practice licenses. Moreover, some students trained at folk Tibetan medical schools—who possess rich clinical experience—cannot resolve their issue of obtaining medical practice qualifications simply because they lack formal school diplomas. Despite the local population’s deep appreciation for and trust in their medical skills, these practitioners are effectively barred from providing medical services.

　　Despite facing numerous challenges and not knowing exactly when specific measures will be introduced, she hasn’t given up her efforts— if one year doesn’t work, she’ll keep on pushing.

　　Feel the warmth of the Chinese nation’s big family.

　　As a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, after listening to this year’s government work report, she became even more determined to continue paying close attention to issues concerning people’s livelihoods.

　　She told reporters that the country is now placing the development of ethnic regions at an unprecedentedly high priority, attaching great importance to economic development in these areas. Premier Wen has emphasized that people in minority ethnic regions should feel the warmth of the Chinese national family. He explicitly called for supporting the development of traditional ethnic medicine—a point that deeply inspired her. She clearly feels that issues related to healthcare reform at the grassroots level are receiving increasing attention, and the situation where farmers and herders face difficulties in accessing medical care will gradually improve.