The construction of a base for cross-Straits medical and health cooperation will soon break ground in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone in Fujian province, Pingtan Times reported on Aug 25.

The base will be jointly built by the Taiwan Cross-Strait Medical Interchange Association, the Cross-Straits Medicine Exchange Association and the Pingtan County Hospital, according to cooperation agreements signed in June.

The three parties will collaborate in clinical care, scientific research, medical prevention and healthcare, and will hold academic activities through the platform, which is set to recruit medical professionals from Taiwan, said Du Dehong, vice president of the Pingtan County Hospital at the base’s inauguration event on Aug 22.

Medical associations from across the Straits also held a free clinic for cataract patients in Pingtan and even provided free surgery for some of them who were financially stretched.