Beijing's first cross-Straits hospital in trial operation

A maternity hospital built jointly by medical institutions from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan went into trial operation in Beijing on Tuesday.

Baodao Healthcare has 226 medical staff and provides 50 beds for expectant mothers at first.

Jin Dapeng, head of the Beijing Medical Association, said at the hospital's opening ceremony that Baodao Healthcare has passed the association's assessment and is operating in accordance with national standards.

"We hope Baodao Healthcare will bring advanced hospital management experience from Taiwan and become a leading figure in international maternity care," Jin said.

According to statistics given at the ceremony, 11 expecting mothers have already registered at the hospital before the trial operation.

Baodao Healthcare is the first mainland-Taiwan joint hospital to be registered in Beijing since the signing of the landmark Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010. The hospital is scheduled to go into official operation in October, providing 100 beds.