Shanghai Decentralizes Medical Resources to Community Hospitals

A centralized booking system in Shanghai is directing patients to more than 240 community hospitals up to five days in advance from over 150 district and city hospitals. The new system alleviates patients’ difficulties of making appointments with the best-known doctors at big hospitals while channeling those who do not need to be treated at big hospitals. The system requires community doctors to be familiar with local residents’ health conditions before deciding whether they should be transferred to another facility. In addition to diagnoses and prescriptions, some community hospitals can perform surgery. All community healthcare practitioners must be well educated and trained. Experts believe the move is essential to improve the distribution of medical resources in the municipality.