Hypertension, diseases of the blood vessels in the heart and brain, malignant tumors and diabetes have become the four major chronic diseases afflicting Beijingers, according to the municipal public health department.

"The city spends as much as 2 billion yuan (US$241 million) annually on medical costs for 1.8 million people covered by public medical care, of which about 75 percent goes on treatingthe four conditions," said Tian Xiangyang, deputy director of the Health Education Institute of Beijing Municipal Public Health Bureau.

This has prompted the city to take action. Among major moves, the public health bureau is drafting a five-year program to reducediseases and boost public health.

As part of this process, the bureau has recently completed a health survey that shows unhealthy habits, such as smoking, excessive drinking, poor diet, lack of physical exercise and depression, are causes of these chronic diseases.

According to a recent survey, 23.25 percent of Beijingers smoke,43.57 percent are fond of salty foods, 26.89 percent like high-fatfoods and 32.15 percent are overweight.

As counter-measures, the bureau has designated four groups of places - neighborhood communities, hospitals, schools and shops - as "Better Fitness Places" in the city. At these places people would have access to sports facilities, greenery, safe drinking water and health tips.

"Our ultimate aim is to make Beijing a 'fitness city', where residents are relieved from worries about health problems," said Tian.

(People's Daily July 24, 2002)