China's Ministry of Health and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Peoples Government are establishing a pilot digital information network to strengthen rural healthcare and promote the development of the rural economy with Rochester, N.Y.-based Carestream Health.
The pilot project will provide clinical training, digital imaging services, remote information storage, and sharing of images and information with specialists in urban centers. As part of the pilot, Carestream Health will donate medical imaging and healthcare IT equipment and services.
Under the direction of the Ministry of Health and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Office of Public Health, Carestream Health has invested in computed radiography (CR) equipment, digital image printing systems, a regional healthcare information storage and sharing platform, and other information technology for rural healthcare diagnostic and information systems. According to Carestream, the project will connect grassroots rural hospitals to urban centers or town-based hospitals, enabling sharing of resources and remote diagnostics.