A training program aimed at preventing and controlling high blood pressure has started for some 20,000 medical workers across China as the number of people diagnosed with hypertension in the country soars.

The program is jointly organized by China's Health Ministry and the Beijing Novartis Pharma Ltd, China branch of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis. Ten hospitals in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai were selected to organize lecture teams that will conduct the training in 70 cities across the country in 2006 and 2007.

The trainees are mainly doctors in hospitals and medical workers in community health service centers, said Huang Qiongli, director of the development center for medical science and technology under the ministry.

The training classes started in September in Guangdong, Jiangsu,Zhejiang and Fujian provinces.

The training is part of a two-year cooperative project between the Beijing Novartis Pharma Ltd. and China's Health Ministry. The project will promote public awareness and control of hypertension and the company's hypertension medicines.

The Beijing Novartis Pharma Ltd. will invest 15 million yuan (US$1.8 million) in the project.

The number of people suffering from high blood pressure has increased 31 percent over the past decade to reach 160 million in China, according to the Ministry of Health.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2006)