China's family doctor system to provide cover by 2020

 05-Aug-16, China Daily

The latest reform of China's health system will see patients sign contracts with physicians for all basic medical needs.

Image: China Daily

China's latest healthcare reform is an initiative that aims to provide all citizens with access to family doctor services by 2020. According to a State Council guideline released in Jun-16, pregnant women, the elderly, children and those with chronic diseases are the prime targets of the new system.

The initiative will make medical services more accessible to the general public and reduce overall medical costs, said Qin Kun, a healthcare-reform official at the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

At present, people visit large hospitals for treatment of minor problems. For many, consultations with specialists are both unnecessary and costly. "Family doctors will serve as gatekeepers for both public health and medical cost control," Qin said.

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