(Yicai Global) Sept. 27 -- Guizhou Bailing Group Pharmaceutical Co. [SHE:002424] has introduced a new campaign to treat 100 diabetes patients free of charge in China's southern Guangdong province, online economic news outlet 21Jingji reported on Sept. 27.

The initiative will highlight the use of the company's Tangningtongluo capsules, which can treat diabetes and diabetic complications such as foot lesions, retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy, said Niu Minxiang, general manager.

The number of diabetes cases in China continues to increase yearly, and annual spending on related medical treatment has reached USD50 billion, making up 13 percent of total health expenditure.

Some 80 percent of spending on diabetes treatment relates to diabetic complications.

The prevalence rate of diabetes in Guangdong province has soared from 2.8 percent to 10 percent over the past decade. More than 8 million sufferers in the region represent younger demographics, which was a key factor in Guizhou Bailing's decision to start the campaign there.

The company's traditional Chinese medicine diabetes hospitals have developed rapidly during the first half of this year, achieving a total income of USD5.41 million (CNY35.89 million) and treating more than 16,000 patients. Its local community health centers treated more than 19,000 diabetic patients in the first half of this year.