ZHENGZHOU -- A hospital in central China's Henan province has set up a rescue fund totaling 2 million yuan ($316,000) to offer free air medical services to critical patients in poverty.

The Henan Provincial People's Hospital said it will cooperate with an aviation company and deploy six medical helicopters to offer the services in the province.

The air medical aid will also be provided in the event of natural disasters and emergencies. The hospital will organize 10 lectures this year to help the public learn more about air medical rescue.

In 2015, the hospital established an air medical aid network and now has 301 helicopter launch pads across the province.