Consultation with local communities has led the foundation to support the maintenance and development of the indigenous Tibetan medicine tradition through training programs and support for sustainable clinics. Tibetan medicine uses local materials in an environmentally appropriate way and provides low-cost health-care as well as education and employment within a highly valued cultural tradition. It is particularly efficacious in the treatment of chronic conditions. Tibetan medicine also provides opportunities for education and employment within a highly valued cultural tradition. The foundation aims to complements Tibetan medicine with training in basic allopathic (western) medicine, which addresses acute medical needs, and in public health and clinic management.

Working closely with health-care administrators in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, Trace Foundation has embarked upon a 'One Roof, Two Skills” project to improve health-care at the village and township levels by supporting training of Tibetan doctors and skilled birth attendants. The long-term goal is that township clinics across the region will be staffed by both a Tibetan doctor, and a midwife trained in western medicine. To this end, we have made a series of grants to county health bureaus to run training programs for Tibetan medicine doctors at their local Tibetan hospitals. Complementary projects offer scholarships for further study to graduates and staff and support the cultivation of herbs for Tibetan medicine. We are also working in cooperation with American International Non-Governmental Organization One H.E.A.R.T. and the Dutch Red Cross to run a training of trainers program for skilled birth attendants.

In Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, Trace Foundation is working with the Prefecture Tibetan Hospital to train a class of young Tibetan medicine doctors who will be posted to rural clinics in their home areas after graduation. To help graduating trainees in both regions manage clinics, the foundation has also developed a management training course that demonstrates models of well-run, sustainable clinics.

On rare occasions, the foundation makes infrastructure or equipment grants to rural health-care facilities as part of an integrated approach involving capacity development.

Recent Grants in Rural Health Care

Biru County Government
Biru (Driru) County, Naqu (Nagchu) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For a Tibetan medicine health worker training program. Partner contribution included classrooms and dormitories for trainees and salary subsidies for teachers.

Amounts of Support: $66,013

Suo County Tibetan Hospital
Suo (Sog) County, Naqu (Nagchu) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For Tibetan medicine herb cultivation. 10,000 square meters of land for cultivation was contributed by the local partner.

Amount of Support: $13,415

Shenzha County Government
Shenzha (Shentsa) County, Naqu (Nagchu) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For the implementation of a Tibetan medicine health worker training program. Partner contribution included classrooms, dormitories, stoves and fuel, salaries for teachers, and job assignments for graduates.

Amount of Support: $59,023

Bonpo Tibetan Medicine Project
Naqu (Nagchu) County, Naqu (Nagchu) District, Tibet Autonomous Region

For the preservation and development of Bonpo Tibetan medicine. The local partner constructed a clinic, student dormitories, and a medicine storage room, trained apprentices, and established a revolving medicine fund.

Amount of Support: $11,910

Ganzi Prefecture Government
Ganzi (Kandze) Prefecture, Sichuan Province

For a four-year Tibetan medicine training program. The prefecture government and Prefecture Tibetan Hospital contributed tuition fees to the value of $12,591, as well as managing the program and providing dormitories, classrooms, and teaching staff.

Amount of Support: $47,598

Ganzi Prefecture Government
Ganzi (Kandze) Prefecture, Sichuan Province

For a prefecture-wide health training program of county-level doctors of western medicine. The prefecture health bureau selected trainees and organized their training placements. Graduates are required to work at their county hospitals for a minimum of ten years, where they will be responsible for training junior staff, developing research, spreading new technology, and giving professional guidance.

Amount of Support: $63,167

Tsongon Lake Tibetan Clinic
Gonghe (Chabcha) County, Hainan (Tsolho) Prefecture, Qinghai (Tsongon) Province

For the purchase of medicines to establish a revolving medicine fund. The grant contributed to the ongoing management of the clinic.

Amount of Support: $3,645

TAR Tibetan Medicine College
Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region

For a three-week training course in rural clinic management including modules on public health practice.

Amount of Support: $31,065

Changshi Tibetan Clinic
Gonghe (Chabcha) County, Hainan (Tsolho) Prefecture, Qinghai (Tsongn'on) Province

For purchase of medicines to establish a revolving medicine fund.

Amount of Support: $3,645