Singapore: A team of Indian and Chinese doctors have jointly launched the fourth medical mission to provide free consultations and medical advice, to boost healthcare services in poorer regions in both the countries.

In a bid to retrace the spirit of 'Barefoot doctors' first undertaken by Dr Dwarakanath Kotnis, a nine-membered team of Indian doctors and specialists across all medical branches have joined their Chinese counterparts to treat patients at city, district and village levels for a week in China's Yunnan province.

This joint medical mission represents the spirit of the "Barefoot Doctors" initially started by Dr Kotnis in 1938. The China-India joint medical mission was announced at an event held by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the China-India Friendship Association (CIFA) recently at Kunming city, to mark the 76th anniversary of Aid-China India Medical Mission.

Dr Kotnis, an iconic figure in China, died treating the injured during the revolution under Mao in China, 71 years ago. To commemorate the spirit of selfless service and dedication of Dr Kotnis, the joint medical mission dispatches outstanding doctors to provide free medical consultations to the needy people of both the nations.