The average life expectancy in Tibet has increased to 67 years from 35.5 recorded before its peaceful liberation, according to the Tibetan Autonomous Regional People's Government.

Since the democratic reform launched 50 years ago, China has been earmarking huge amounts of funds in establishing and improving the public health care system in Tibet, covering both its urban and rural areas.

Tibet's oldest woman Arme Tsering celebrates her 118th birthday with her grandchildren at home in the northeastern suburbs of Lhasa, March 16, 2009. The average life expectancy in Tibet has increased to 67 years from 35.5 recorded before its peaceful liberation, according to the Tibetan Autonomous Regional People's Government. [Xinhua photo]

Before that, Tibet had no modern medical institutions, except for three small government-run Tibetan medical units and few private clinics. There were less than 100 medical workers and 300 folk Tibetan doctors in the agricultural and pastoral areas. Therefore, diseases like smallpox, cholera, scarlet fever and tetanus ran rampant.

To prevent and control the spread of diseases, China has taken a series of effective measures. Since the 1960s, smallpox and kinds of infectious diseases have been eliminated in Tibet, with incidents of epidemics declining substantially.

Tibet has now established an insurance system covering all the urban population and a medical system based on free service in the agricultural and pastoral areas. The per-capita free medical subsidy for farmers and herders is 140 yuan.

In 2008, Tibet had 1,339 health care institutions and 9,098 medical workers, 1,277 and 8,307 more than in 1959, respectively.

The same year, the Tibetan Autonomous Regional Government spent 120 million yuan in upgrading five regional maternity and child care hospitals and five general hospitals, and building up 20 Tibetan medicine hospitals, two medical service centers, and six disease control centers at the county level.

By the end of 2008, Tibet had 220,000 seniors aged above 60, accounting for 8 percent of its population. Among them, 20,000 were over 80 in age and 79 over 100.