A project meant to help patients who have leukemia will be introduced in 21 Chinese cities starting on Aug 1, the Cancer Foundation of China said on Sunday.

The project will mainly provide aid to patients who have chronic myelogenous leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells. It will be conducted in 82 hospitals in 21 cities and will establish 13 dispensing points where patients can obtain drugs free of charge.

Patients who officially qualify as living in poverty or as having low incomes can apply for assistance from the project starting on Aug 1. If their applications are approved, they will receive medical treatment for free or at a discount.

More than 150 doctors are participating in the program. They have received special training to ensure they will provide treatment that is of a high quality.

In China, some leukemia patients have had to either suspend their medical treatments or cease receiving them altogether because they can't pay for them.

"The assistance of social groups and enterprises is needed to help these patients," said Zhao Ping, vice-president of the Cancer Foundation of China.