China plans to train 300,000 general practitioners

By Hou Lei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-04-02 20:26

China will train up to 300,000 general practitioners within 10 years to satisfy the needs of primary-level medical and health care institutions, Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.

The plan, announced by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), will also encourage doctors to serve at primary-level hospitals or clinics.

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General practitioners provide primary care, treating acute and chronic illnesses in community-level medical institutions. They also provide preventive care for local residents.

To implement the plan, the country will push forward reforms in the medical education system and adjust student enrollment numbers as well as majors, Xinhua said.

To encourage college graduates to work in primary-level clinics, authorities will offer tuition fee remission, student loans and an early promotion.

Students who agree to work as general practitioners in county and village-level clinics in rural areas of west and central China after graduation can get their medical training free.

In this year's government work report, Premier Wen Jiabao promised to accelerate reform in health care and support development of village clinics and rural doctors.

Training general practitioners for primary-level hospitals is also an important part of China's public hospital reform. A medical student will have to complete his residency before becoming a general practitioner in the future, according to the reform plan released on February.