The Urumqi government plans to allot 200 million yuan ($30 million) to its basic public hygiene service subsidy this year, it was announced on Oct 19.

The subsidy per person is 2.4 times higher than five years ago, marking Urumqi’s progress in pushing forward public health.

The Xinjiang capital’s finance bureau said that the money will mainly be used to provide health care services to young children aged from zero to six, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.

Over 3.2 million city residents will enjoy 51 free basic public health services such as blood pressure checks.

Urumqi has exerted great efforts in promoting its public health standards since 2012. The healthy annual allowance per person has reached 85 yuan ($12.6), an increase of 60 yuan ($8.9) compared to 2012. The number has far transcended the national standard of 45 yuan ($6.7) per person.

By Qiu Guizhen and edited by Owen Fishwick