China is pursuing an ambitious program of reform to improve the public health system. The government has been attempting medical reform for a decade. Now we continue our special series to look at those efforts and achievements.
The idea behind multi-sited practice by doctors is often considered a buffering period towards going freelance. As the effect of the policy begins to slow, a group of pioneers continues to push forward. They've chosen to work for themselves, and formed the first doctor groups in China.
Miss Gu suffers from varicose veins in her legs, one of the vascular diseases. She just finished her surgery about fifteen minutes ago, now she's able to walk normally.
Gu chose a medical group for the first time instead of a hospital following a recommendation by a friend who recovered well after her own surgery.
"The experience was different. I am able to talk with doctors calmly without stress. The medical service is great. Most importantly, I don't feel I've just had surgery. I can walk normally and I'll be able to leave hospital soon and get back to my daily routines."
Dr. Zhang Qiang is the surgeon behind this day operation, and is also the founder of China's first medical group. He is one of the few doctors in China who does not belong to any medical organisation. Becoming a freelancer is common among other professions, but not for medical workers. For now at least, it is still considered a courageous act in China
"Most Chinese doctors are employed by public hospitals. From what I've experienced, it is hard for them to practice at different sites even if permitted by law now. Because doctors are still employed by their own hospitals. Concerns are from both sides," Dr. Zhang said.
The only option to be able to work freely is to leave the system. Dr. Zhang Qiang has a lot to face, but he keeps his spirits high. He named himself Dr. Smile. He said the road ahead is unknown but attitude is what matters. The real task is providing good care to the patients.
"I don't like the word market. I think it is too commercial to describe what we are doing in the medical field. Our principle is to bring the best medical service to our patients. We pay great attention to our reputation. Because that determines the trust we get from our patients. More people would come to us if they've experienced themselves how we handled each case, our surgery and our medical service," Dr. Zhang said.
Despite being a famous surgeon in a public hospital for so many years, Dr Zhang still had a humble start with only five surgeries in his first month. He currently handles nearly three surgeries per day.
With a 99.5-percent satisfaction rate, he's quite confident of the path they've taken.
The team is now expanding, many people reach out to him. But still few have the courage to jump into the cold water with him. Dr. Wang Yongchun is one of them. He joined the team about one year ago, building up his own division by copying the operation mode tested by Dr. Zhang.
"I feel excited to join a doctor group. We've all been through low periods inside the public system. It is hard to revise or adjust in a short time. Now that we enjoy more freedom, we can have many tries to push medical reform in the direction that we hoped for as the participants for so many years. We can use our experience to work out a better path for the reform," Dr. Wang Yongchun, surgeon with Dr. Smile Medial Group, said.
Medical illustration is a hobby of Dr. Zhu Xiaoyin, who's young and passionate. She was also one of the first doctors to join Dr. Zhang's group. Unlike many of her peers who're still fighting with the medical problems in public hospitals, she has something more important to do.
"I'm feeling great about my own status right now. I don't have any complaints about my job. I think the biggest difference is as a doctor, we are more volunteered to think, to care, to help our patients. I think I got more chances to train myself. Many of my peers are interested in my work, but they hesitate to jump aboard. Many reasons are holding them back such as job titles, thesis paper, etc. I don't have similar concerns. I got what I want. I even got my job titles faster than them," Dr. Zhu Xiaoyin, surgeon with Dr. Smile Medial Group, said.
Having developed a maturer mode, Dr. Zhang Qiang hopes to duplicate his operation pattern across the country by involving more doctors willing to try.
In Shenzhen in recent days, the first business licence for a doctor medical group was released. Dr. Zhang considers this acceptance by the government as, when he registered one and a half years ago, he could only register as a company.
He believes as long as the government encourages freelancer medical practitioners, it is a positive signal of medical reform.
There is still a long way to go, but he and other pioneers are willing to continue marching forward.
