A cooperative medical service system set up be the Chinese government in farming and grazing areas in Tibet Autonomous Region has attracted increasing numbers of Tibetan farmers and herdsmen.

More than 1.56 million farmers and herdsmen, or 74.26 percent of the total in this southwest China region, have taken part, according to the regional health bureau.

The cooperative medical service has spread to 654 towns in 70 counties, or 82.11 percent and 94.59 percent respectively of the region's total, since it was introduced in 1997.

Farmers and herdsmen take part in the cooperative medical service system on a voluntarily basis. Under the cooperative system, the government, the collectives and individual farmers and herdsman jointly raise funds for medical services.

The funds raised from farmers and herdsmen account for 1.5 to three percent of their annual per capita income and the government grants 30 yuan (3.62 US dollars) in allowances to each of them annually.

Farmers and herdsmen can have their expenses on medicines and medical services refunded at designated hospitals and medical institutions.