A staff member at the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College helps patients pay for medical insurance via facial recognition. [Photo/WeChat account of Baotou Daily]

Baotou's healthcare sector has witnessed remarkable progress once again. In May, the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College became the first hospital in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region to implement facial recognition payments for medical insurance, marking a significant advancement in the digitization of the city's healthcare services.

In July, Baotou Medical College's Second Affiliated Hospital successfully ascended to the status of a regional tertiary Grade A comprehensive hospital.

In early September, the Baotou Medical Association established a specialized branch for organ donations and transplants, filling a void in the autonomous region and providing a new platform for medical professionals across the city and the region to engage in academic exchanges related to organ donations and transplants.

The entire healthcare industry in Baotou is pursuing high-quality development to turn Baotou into a medical hub of national and regional renown, spreading its influence across North and Northwest China.

By 2025, Baotou aims to establish six high-level tertiary comprehensive hospitals. This initiative aims to propel Grade A comprehensive hospitals such as the Central Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Baogang Hospital, and Inner Mongolia Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to the forefront of the domestic healthcare sector. Additionally, there are plans to develop North Pharmaceutical Hospital into a Grade B comprehensive hospital.

Furthermore, building upon existing infrastructure, by 2030, Baotou plans to construct four national clinical key specialty hospitals, establish two national-level clinical medical research institutions, create the autonomous region's first medical-educational-research integrated organ transplant center, and set up 30 studios for the preservation of expertise by renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.

These comprehensive measures will further enhance medical services in Baotou, ensuring higher quality healthcare for the city's residents.