URUMQI -- The Chinese government has allocated over 27 billion yuan (about $4.04 billion) in funds for the health sector of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to a meeting held in Xinjiang on Oct 22.

Li Bin, deputy director of the National Health Commission, said at the meeting that since the 13th Five-Year Plan began in 2016, a total of 5.78 billion yuan has been transferred to 369 health-related projects in the region.

A total of 111,000 poverty-stricken households in Xinjiang that became poor due to illness have been successfully lifted out of poverty, Li said.

Meanwhile, 19 provinces and municipalities have given more than 5.9 billion yuan in funds to help Xinjiang improve its medical and health infrastructure during the 13th Five-Year Plan.

By 2019, the average life expectancy in Xinjiang has risen to 74 years, according to official data.