Nearly 6,000 of those injured in the quake have been taken from Sichuan for treatment in other provinces.

Nearly 6,000 of those injured in the quake have been taken from Sichuan for treatment in other provinces.

On Monday, nearly 500 patients were taken by air or rail to Shanghai, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong. 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have been asked by the Ministry of Health to receive the injured. Only seriously injured but stable patients could be transferred as they needed long-term medical care, and were unlikely to require emergency treatment en route.

A total of 8,000 quake victims will be sent to eighteen provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities for treatment by the end of this month.

(CCTV May 27, 2008)