County-level hospitals to get boost   

中国努力缓解城市大医院人满为患局面

中国将通过开展城乡对口支援，使城市大医院医务人员长期在县级医院工作，让基层民众不出县域便能接受城市大医院的医生服务。这是中国卫生部副部长马晓伟25日接受媒体采访时透露的。

Beijing (CNS) - - Management and service at county-level hospitals will be improved, China's Vice Health Minister Ma Xiaowei said on Thursday.

According to the 12th five-year plan for medical and health services issued a few days earlier, 90 percent of common and serious diseases, as well as certain complex diseases, will be treated at county-level hospitals.

This will help reduce the pressure on urban hospitals and control medical expenses, Ma said.

Inadequacy and unequal distribution have made it difficult for citizens to access good and affordable medical care, Ma said, adding that county-level hospitals and rural clinics are in urgent need of qualified workers to meet demand.

Ma said support will be given to experienced professional medical workers who choose to work long-term at county-level hospitals.

To upgrade services, the government will also provide systematic training for employees at county-level hospitals, Ma added.