URUMQI, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will further ease the medical treatment burden for patients with serious and chronic diseases, according to local authorities.

  Xinjiang will introduce a new regulation whereby patients with tumors whose conditions are assessed as stable by doctors can receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy in outpatient departments, with basic medical insurance covering as high as 90 percent of the total treatment costs, Feng Dong with Xinjiang's health commission said Tuesday at a press conference.

  For patients with special chronic diseases, the region has designated 15 pharmacies to offer drugs they may need, and the patients are allowed to get up to two months worth of medicine with one prescription.

  The region has also expanded basic medical insurance for tuberculosis patients, under which all treatment in outpatient departments and 90 percent of hospitalization costs can be reimbursed.

  The regional government is also working hard to ensure that poor families can enjoy timely medical treatment. It has appropriated about 2.5 billion yuan (355 million U.S. dollars) this year for medical assistance for its low-income population.

  A comprehensive insurance plan that covers basic medical care, critical illness treatment and medical assistance has been applied to all the registered impoverished residents in Xinjiang so far, the government said.