The city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has launched a free testing program for the prevention of birth defects, in order to improve the health of its population going forwards.

The tests look out for non-invasive prenatal genes, 48 kinds of inherited metabolic diseases in neonates and they carry out neonatal deafness genes detection.

Pregnant women with household registration in Ordos and newborns in medical midwifery institutions in the city can have the tests done at no charge.

Statistics show that around 10,000 babies are born in Ordos annually and 4-6 percent have some form of birth defect.

Free testing is another move supported by the Ordos financial bureau to bolster public health and is seen as being of great importance to promote the prevention and treatment of birth defects.