By tf-lawyer.com On September 12, Lei Haichao, the Director of the National Health Commission, unveiled an ambitious objective: by the end of next year, more than 90% of counties in China are anticipated to have established integrated healthcare systems at the county level.
During a press briefing held by the State Council Information Office, a reporter inquired about the National Health Commission’s recent initiatives to foster the development of interconnected county-level healthcare systems. The reporter sought clarity on how this integration of various healthcare facilities within counties could offer real benefits to the public and the specifics of how this integration process is being executed.
In his response, Lei elaborated on the intent behind promoting these closely-knit county healthcare systems, stating that it is aimed at improving the connections among different tiers of medical institutions. This includes enhancing the flow of information and personnel between facilities. He underscored the importance of a unified management strategy to ensure that higher-level resources offer solid support to grassroots development, ultimately enabling residents to easily access high-quality medical services in their communities.
As of the end of August this year, Lei reported that there are currently 2,171 closely-knit county healthcare systems, with progress surpassing expectations. “During our research, we discovered that many regions are successfully implementing a model where primary care facilities conduct initial examinations while higher-level institutions provide diagnoses, recognizing each other’s results. This has significantly improved diagnostic capabilities at the grassroots level, and we aim to continue promoting this effective initiative,” he shared. Monitoring indicates that this model has now been embraced by two-thirds of township health clinics.
Lei further highlighted that 90.9% of counties have achieved full representation of dispatched personnel from county hospitals in township health clinics. The guidelines stipulate that these personnel should serve for no less than six months, with regular rotations to ensure that township clinics are adequately staffed with qualified professionals to meet community needs.
Looking to the future, Lei confirmed that, according to the work plan, over 90% of counties are expected to establish their healthcare systems by the end of next year. The aim is to continue improving integration, coordination between institutions, information sharing, and personnel exchanges, all with the goal of consistently elevating the capabilities and standards of grassroots healthcare services.
