"It's much easier for me to settle the bills straight away regardless of the locality,” said Gu Deyi, a villager from Zhonglu Township of Weixi Lisu Autonomous County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Gu was recalling his recent treatment in a Dali hospital.

Earlier this year, the Medical Security Bureau of Weixi County, under the help of provincial and prefectural medical institutions, increased the inter-prefectural settlement rate of medical bills for people in Weixi County.

By offering locals one-stop medical service, the Weixi medical authority has reduced the burden of medical care and eased the pain that has affected people's lives.  

In October, Lu Mazai, a villager from the county’s Kangpu Township, was hospitalized for a benign tumor at the Affiliated Hospital of Dali University.

Out of the medical expenses of 57,066 yuan, 48,202 was settled on the spot. The Weixi medical bureau also helped pay part of the remaining expenses, and finally Lu Mazai only paid around 5,000 yuan.

Within the past two months, more than 200 Weixi natives have benefited from the on-the-spot settlement service in the neighboring Dali hospital.

"At present, an increasing number of Weixi natives settle their medical bills straight away in other prefectures or provinces, and they don’t have to pay medical expenses in advance any more,” said Huang Zhihong, deputy director of Weixi Medical Security Bureau.

Reporting by Zhang Fan and Yu Liqin (Yunnan Daily); trans-editing by Wang Shixue