Doctor gives up comfortable life to serve seniors in village
Updated: 2016-11-07 12:53
By Ma Chi(chinadaily.com.cn)
|
|||||||||
Li Qinru shows the medical kit and medical records as well as the shoes that are completely worn out. [Photo/CCTV] |
A patient named Deng Xiang told a Xinhua reporter that "whether it is chopping firewood or buying salt and meat, we ask doctor Li for help. He is better than our sons."
By the end of 2010, China had 1.2 million rural doctors like Li Qinru. On average, two doctors serve for an administrative village. Some of them work in remote and underdeveloped areas where residents find it hard to see a doctor in larger hospitals in towns. For them, rural doctors like Li Qinru are the only resort.
Since he became a doctor at 17, Li has worn out more than 200 pair of shoes and covered more than 100,000 kilometers on the trips to his patients' homes.
Walking mountainous road for years has left Li with severe rheumatic arthritis. It tortures him when it gets cold.
His wife complains about Li's job often.
"I told him to quit the job, but he never listens to me," said Peng Xiaomei, his wife. She said many fellow rural doctors have left home and made decent income in towns. Li is the only one who has stayed behind.
For each home visit, Li charges 8 yuan. Sometime, he simply provides free services when the patients cannot afford the treatment.
Li said it is not realistic for the old people to go more than 10 km to hospitals in towns. As a doctor, he cannot abandon them.
But he is worried about the future of his patients.
"My health is getting worse and worse. I have been looking for my successor for years. But I haven't found one," said Li.
To solve the problem, Ji'an city, which administers Qiqin township, has launched a program to cultivate rural doctors with preferential policies of "zero tuition plus 300 yuan in subsidy" for students. However, no one from Qiqin township applied for it.
Li Qinru is looking to other solutions.
"Zaoshi is a high-land village with rich tourism resources such as distinctive folklore culture, delicacies, rare stones and azalea blossoms," said Li. If the tourism develops well, villagers can make a better life, which may help solve the problem.
- Summit of Climate Conscience kicks off in Morocco
- British Airways announces special fares for New Year
- S. Korean president says to accept investigation over scandal if necessary
- Names of twin panda cubs born in Austrian zoo revealed
- May's Brexit plans thrown into chaos by landmark court ruling
- Syrian army announces 'humanitarian pause' on Friday
- Ten photos from around China: Oct 28- Nov 3
- Shanghai Art Fair connects people with art in daily life
- Chinese captain takes off at Air Show China in Zhuhai
- Wuzhen Internet Intl Conference Center under preparation for 3rd WIC
- China's top 10 post-80s self-made billionaires
- Famous paintings recreated with chocolate
- Looking for a ride?
- Robots draw people to China International Industry Fair
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
US election rhetoric unlikely to foreshadow future US-China relations
'Zero Hunger Run' held in Rome
Trump outlines anti-terror plan, proposing extreme vetting for immigrants
Phelps puts spotlight on cupping
US launches airstrikes against IS targets in Libya's Sirte
Ministry slams US-Korean THAAD deployment
Two police officers shot at protest in Dallas
Abe's blame game reveals his policies failing to get results
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |