This year has seen a marked increase in the number of Mongol nationals being treated at hospitals in Hohhot City, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
So far this year, more than 30,000 Mongolian patients have crossed the border to see Chinese doctors, according to local sources. Of these patients over 1,000 were hospitalized for treatment.
The statistics of the previous years were not available.
"We like to go to hospitals in Hohhot because of their good conditions, equipment and doctors as well as the low cost," said Toya, a Mongolia patient suffering from kidney problems.
Uncomplicated customs procedures and no language barrier are also main factors for the increase in hospital visits from the other side of the border, a foreign patient said.
(Xinhua Neww Agency December 25, 2001)
