China to Implement New Standards for Internet-Based Family Doctor Contract Services
Pilot Programme Announced
China is set to run a pilot programme to implement and promote new standards for internet-based family doctor contract services. The programme was announced in a meeting with general practitioners led by the Chinese Medical Association, and will be developed in partnership with major hospitals and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.
Why it Matters
The new standards will reportedly be modelled after the standards developed by Chinese insurer Ping An for its online family doctor service, Ping An Family Doctor. The service virtually connects patients with GPs – certified by the World Organization of Family Doctors – for medical consultations, and also facilitates referrals, hospital appointment bookings, nursing care, and post-discharge follow-ups.
The Ping An Family Doctor Platform
The Ping An Family Doctor platform provides access to EHRs, allows the uploading of medical reports, and generates AI-driven personalised health plans. It can be integrated with smart medical devices and delivers near-real-time alerts for urgent health concerns. The membership-based service, introduced in 2022, now has nearly 13 million registered users.
The Larger Context
The family doctor system was introduced as part of health reforms establishing primary health centres in China in 2019. Two years later, it became a national strategy to establish the GP system. In 2013, family doctor contract services were piloted in rural areas before its nationwide implementation in 2016. The Chinese government is promoting the family doctor service to make high-quality primary care services more accessible to the general population and help decongest hospitals.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite the challenges in promoting these contractual services, there have been efforts to address people’s reluctance to sign up for the service. A study proposed increasing health insurance reimbursements, reducing out-of-pocket expenses of patients, and providing patient discounts as ways to address people’s reluctance.
Conclusion
The implementation of new standards for internet-based family doctor contract services is an important step in promoting high-quality primary care services in China. The pilot programme will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of these standards and help improve the overall healthcare system.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the pilot programme?
A: The pilot programme aims to implement and promote new standards for internet-based family doctor contract services.
Q: Who is developing the new standards?
A: The new standards will be developed in partnership with major hospitals and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.
Q: What is the Ping An Family Doctor platform?
A: The Ping An Family Doctor platform is a membership-based service that virtually connects patients with GPs for medical consultations, and also facilitates referrals, hospital appointment bookings, nursing care, and post-discharge follow-ups.
Q: How many registered users does the Ping An Family Doctor platform have?
A: The platform has nearly 13 million registered users.
Q: What is the goal of the family doctor system in China?
A: The goal of the family doctor system is to make high-quality primary care services more accessible to the general population and help decongest hospitals.
